Singapore Prize 2024
The Singapore Prize 2024 will recognise publications that contribute to our understanding of the nation’s history. It is open to book-length works published between 1 June 2021 and 31 May 2024, on any subject relating to the national history of Singapore.
In the same vein as the Nobel prize, the Singapore Prize aims to highlight the work of local historians and writers. It will reward outstanding works that make a contribution to our knowledge and appreciation of the country’s historical and cultural heritage. This is done by bringing to light the diverse perspectives and narratives of the Singapore story.
Aimed at promoting research into Singapore’s unique history and identity, the Singapore Prize is a prestigious award with an annual prize fund of up to S$50,000. The winner will be presented with the medal and certificate at a special awards ceremony.
The prize is jointly organised by the National Archives of Singapore, the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), and the Singapore Academy of Social Sciences. The award is a part of the NARA – ISEAS Singapore History Research Grant.
After debuting in London in 2021 and Boston last year, Prince William’s Earthshot Prize is heading to Asia this November. The global environmental initiative — named after President John F Kennedy’s ‘moonshot’ speech in 1962, referencing his challenge to America to land on the moon — will be held in Singapore for the first time, Kensington Palace has revealed.
It will feature a week of events, kicking off on Monday 6 November with the launch of Earthshot Week. The organisers will be inviting global leaders, businesses and investors to convene in the city for an event they say will ‘explore exciting opportunities with the Earthshot Prize Winners and Finalists, aimed at accelerating their solutions and bringing about tangible action to repair the planet’. They will also organise ‘local activations’ for members of the public to participate in.
In addition, strategic partners Temasek Trust and carbon solutions platform GenZero will collectively bring their expertise and extensive corporate, philanthropy and investment networks to convene an audience in Singapore and beyond to help amplify impact. Conservation International will leverage its deep understanding of biodiversity and wide network to connect the winners with partners committed to delivering scalable, innovative solutions for people and nature.
The golf tournament, which will be held at the Sentosa Golf Club, will have an eye-watering purse of $25 million – with the individual champion walking away with a $4 million payout. This is nearly 16% of the total prize money pool, and is more than most golfers earn for a top-10 finish on traditional tours.
The inaugural prize was awarded in 2021, and went to historian Hidayah Amin for her book Leluhur: Singapore’s Kampong Gelam, which traces the community’s rich and enduring culinary heritage. This year’s other winners include an Indian maker of solar-powered dryers, a soil carbon marketplace, and groups working to bolster enforcement to deter illegal fishing.
