The royal received a rock star welcome in Singapore this evening, as hundreds of fans lined up at the Jewel Changi Airport to greet him with homemade signs, Union Jack flags and photos of his late mother Princess Diana. The prince was in the city for the award ceremony of the third annual Earthshot Prize, which honours individuals who have scaled up their environmental ideas.
Speaking at the event, William praised the winners for their commitment to repairing the planet. The prince said: ‘Their work is inspiring to me because it shows that we all have the ability and the responsibility to do something meaningful.’ He added: ‘We must continue to invest in innovation in order to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges and ensure that the next generation has a brighter, more sustainable future.’
A total of 59 nominations were received from locals and foreigners, ranging from scientists to environmental activists. The finalists were selected by an independent jury, comprising experts in their respective fields. The top five winners will receive a share of $1 million to help them further their work. They will also be invited to join the new Global Leaders for Sustainability programme, which brings together a diverse group of leaders from across the globe who are committed to addressing the biggest global sustainability issues.
Professor John Miksic won the singapore prize for history prize for his book Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800 – a book that synthesises 25 years of archaeological research to reconstruct the 14th century port of Singapore. The NUS historian praised the panel that shortlisted his book, saying that it was made up of scholars with different backgrounds who were united by their love for Singapore’s history. ‘This is the kind of book that can change how people understand Singapore and its place in the world,’ he said.
NUS’ Department of History launched the prize in 2014 to spur interest in Singapore’s unique history and foster greater discussion about the country’s legacy. The prize is open to submissions from creators of any nationality who publish works in English on the theme of Singapore’s history.
The winners of the singapore prize for literature will be announced later this year. In this year’s pool, more than half of the writers shortlisted for the prize are competing in the category for the first time. Wang Gungwu, who is 91 and writes in English, and Suratman Markasan, 93, who writes in Malay, are the oldest authors to make the list this year.
The other two are Yeow Kai Chai for her book The Orchid Folios and Pooja Nansi for her poem collection The First and Last Word. A total of 30 authors will vie for the top honours in this year’s competition, which is the sixth edition of the prize.