Singapore Prize Winners Announced

The world is interested in Singapore’s unique success story. And Singaporeans want to know more about their own country’s history. Hence, the NUS Singapore History Prize was born. Submissions can take the form of non-fiction or fiction works from around the world as long as they have clear historical themes about Singapore. They must be published between Jun 1 and May 31 of 2024.

This year’s first winner was archaeologist John Miksic for his book Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800. The 71-year-old American was inspired to write the work after an opinion column he wrote for The Straits Times in April 2014. He called on Singapore’s philanthropists to donate cash to award a prize to authors who write about the nation’s history. He said he was stunned by the response to his call for help.

He added that he wanted to tell the story of how Singapore was discovered, and how the nation was built over time by the people who made it happen. He drew on literary references and archaeological digs to show that the city was already established by the 14th century. The work also revealed how a series of events led to the nation’s independence and the formation of the Republic of Singapore.

Miksic also shared that he wanted to remind the public that the history of Singapore is not static and new information and insights keep emerging, as exemplified by his work. He also thanked the judges and sponsors for their support and encouragement. They included National Library Board, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Peoples’ Association, Nanyang Girls’ High School and Hwa Chong Institute.

The second winner was law professor Lynette Chua, who won the Law & Society Association International Prize for her work on how laws are made and enforced in a complex legal system. She was a pioneer in studying the impact of laws on the lives and identities of women, and her book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the Singapore legal system better.

Lastly, the third winner was Conservation International for its work on how to scale solutions for nature and people. This global organisation’s vast network will connect the prize winners with partners that are committed to tackling scalable environmental challenges in our region.

At the ceremony, NUS President Tharman Shanmugaratnam gave a speech on how Singapore is using its advantages to thrive and compete globally. He also presented the inaugural NUS Singapore Prize certificates and gold medallions to the winners. The event was held at Ritz Carlton-Millenia in Singapore.