The NUS Singapore Prize is open to works of non-fiction whose historical account significantly contributes to our understanding of the past. It may be a single work or a series of books on any topic related to Singapore history, published between 1 June 2021 and 31 May 2024. Submissions are also accepted for other creative works that have a clear Singapore history theme.
The winner will receive a prize of S$50,000 at a gala dinner to be held in November this year. He or she will also have the opportunity to present his or her book to a wider audience at WAF and be part of the judging panel for WAFX, which celebrates international proposals that embrace cutting-edge design in solving major world issues.
This year’s prize has a long shortlist, including works that challenge the idea of history as a record of big movers and shakers. Kamaladevi Aravindan’s The Orchid Folios, for example, chronicles the lives of the people in an estate over five decades. Another work, by professor John Miksic, recounts the experiences of volunteers who helped him conduct archaeological excavations of Fort Canning and other sites in Singapore.
Prof Mahbubani said there were plans to expand the prize in future, to include works of fiction and movies that tell a story of Singapore’s history. Taking 12 Years a Slave as an example, he said that such works can often communicate historical facts and events more effectively than factual texts.
During his visit to Singapore, Prince William will meet local organisations that are working to protect and restore the planet. He will join representatives of law enforcement agencies, conservation groups and corporations in the United for Wildlife summit to discuss their efforts to tackle a global trade in illegal wildlife products worth $20 billion annually.
He will also visit a water treatment plant and learn about the technology being developed to turn sewage into clean drinking water. In addition, the Prince will try his hand at dragon boating, a popular sport in many parts of Asia, and see firsthand how NGOs in Singapore are mobilising the community to tackle the plight of endangered animals. He will also visit a water purification lab at a science park to see how scientists are using innovative technologies to address environmental challenges. The trip is the latest stop in the Prince’s Earthshot campaign, which was launched in 2020 to encourage people across the globe to work together on environmental solutions. The campaign, which is supported by philanthropy, has already awarded catalytic prizes of up to $1 million to organizations developing technologies to protect and restore the planet.