A List of Singapore Prize Winners
A Singapore prize is a reward given to people or organizations who have made significant contributions to the nation. These rewards are often in the form of monetary prizes, medals and awards, as well as recognition and honours. This article provides a list of Singapore prizes and their winners, as well as details about the award’s criteria and process for nominations.
The inaugural Singapore Prize was awarded to archaeologist John Miksic for his work on the history of Singapore. Miksic was honoured for his “fundamental reinterpretation” of Singapore’s past and its role in Asia. He says his research has helped answer the question of where Singapore began, and he was also praised for finding evidence from literary records such as written accounts by Chinese traders and maps.
Miksic is the first person to win the prize, which was introduced in 2014 and will be given out every three years. It is open to writers of all nationalities whose writings deal with Singapore’s history. The prize’s panel of judges seeks to cast a wide net for consideration by welcoming writings that cover different time periods and themes with clear historical links. Besides books, it will also consider works such as plays or films that have clear historical themes.
During his visit to the city-state, the prince took part in a dragon boat race with athletes from the British Dragons club on the Kallang River, before planting a Tembusu sapling at Jurong Hill. The event was part of the Earthshot Prize, a series of events that celebrates entrepreneurs and startups that are tackling some of the planet’s most pressing environmental issues. Its name is a reference to President Kennedy’s 1962 “moonshot” speech, which inspired him and his partners to aim high and achieve breakthroughs in areas like climate change.
The prize program aims to identify and honour exemplary work that is published in the four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. Winners will receive a cash prize, an engraved plaque and an official certificate. They will also be listed on the programme’s website and social media channels. In addition, they will have the opportunity to join a global network of innovators and business leaders.
The prizes are administered by the National University of Singapore (NUS), in partnership with the Asia Society. The NUS History Prize is supported by an endowment from an anonymous donor. The other three prizes are sponsored by private individuals and organisations. The NUS History Prize was established in 2014 and is awarded every three years. The next competition will be in 2024, and submissions are open to any book that focuses on the history of Singapore, and is written by authors of all nationalities. Submissions will be judged by a panel of experts. The winning book will be publicised and featured on the NUS History Prize website. Other shortlisted books will also be featured on the site. The NUS History Prize is a joint initiative of the NUS Department of History and the NUS Heritage Fund.