Singapore Prize 2023 Winners Announced
As a global leader in innovation, the Singapore prize aims to help reshape our planet. It provides a catalytic S$1 million to winners in Southeast Asia who have developed technology that has the potential to scale their environmental solutions. The Prince of Wales was in Singapore on 7 November to attend the Earthshot Prize 2023 awards ceremony and meet local organisations that are working to protect our planet.
During his visit, the prince also tried his hand at dragon boating. He met local youths and was inspired by their passion to care for their community. One of them, Muhammad Dinie, from the Institute of Technical Education, College Central, shared how he led a project to thank Ang Mo Kio Town Council cleaners during the Covid-19 pandemic. The group distributed packed food, groceries, and thank-you cards to the cleaners at the Ang Mo Kio estate.
The inaugural Singapore History Prize was launched in 2022 to honour the nation’s long and rich heritage. Administered by the NUS Department of History, the prize was first proposed by NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani in his Straits Times column. Mahbubani argued that nations are “imagined communities” and that the past provides vital ties between them.
Professor Miksic’s book, The Search for Singapore’s Beginnings, is a foundational work in the quest to establish how Singapore began. It lays out the evidence that has been gathered since the early days of the city-state, ranging from bits of historical information in literary records to archaeological finds. His book also reinterprets existing interpretations on the origins of the country.
Prof Miksic’s book is available for purchase in local bookstores such as Kinokuniya and the NUS Press website. It is expected to be translated into Mandarin soon. Prof Miksic, who is based at NUS, has also been involved in the excavation of historic sites, including Empress Place and Old Parliament House, as well as the 14th century port of Kampong Gelam.
The search for Singapore’s beginnings is not over yet. The next winner of the Singapore History Prize is likely to be announced towards the end of October 2024. A distinguished Jury Panel, chaired by Mr Mahbubani, will select the winner. The panel comprises eminent historians and academics such as Professor Tan Tai Yong from the National University of Singapore; Professor Peter A. Coclanis, director of the Global Research Institute, University of North Carolina; and historian Prof John Miksic from NUS. This year, the jury received 192 submissions from publishers for consideration. This is 32 fewer than the 224 titles submitted in 2020. The reduced number of submissions may reflect the impact of the pandemic on publishing in Singapore. The prize also hosts a Readers’ Favorite exercise, in which readers can vote online for their favourite shortlisted title from the four categories. The winner of the Readers’ Favorite award receives 1,000 Singapore dollars (US$720). The full list of books is here.