The President’s Science and Technology Awards (formerly the National Science and Technology Awards) are Singapore’s premier scheme for publicly recognizing world-class researchers. Winners receive a silver medal with the state arms emblazoned on it, as well as a cash prize of up to $200,000 for research and development in their respective areas.
In addition, the winners receive a citation from the President of Singapore that is affixed to their medals. Past winners of the medal include astrophysics guru Prof Sir Roger Penrose and anthropology legend Dr Margaret Hillier. The award was first conferred in 2009 and was known as the National Science and Technology Awards until it was elevated to Presidential status.
British Prince William rolled out the green carpet for the second time as he presented this year’s Earthshot prizes in a ceremony in Singapore. He praised the 15 winning innovations, which cover everything from solar-powered dryers to combating food waste and making electric car batteries cleaner. Celebrities such as Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and actors Donnie Yen, Lana Condor and Australian wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin joined him on the “green carpet”, which was covered in plastic for the event’s environmental theme.
The 2024 Singapore History Prize will be awarded to a book that contributes to a better understanding of the country’s past. Its jury, chaired by NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani, is composed of historian and author John Miksic; educator Beatrice Chong; curator Suhaili Osman; and writer Meira Chand. The prize was mooted by Mahbubani in a Straits Times opinion piece in 2014.
As the country prepares to mark its centenary, the prize is aimed at encouraging people to research and write about Singapore’s history. It’s also a recognition that the shared imagination – which is rooted in history – is the glue holding societies together.
The prize’s shortlist also features non-fiction works with a more personal slant. One such work is Leluhur: Singapore’s Kampong Gelam by Hidayah Amin, which shines a light on the neighbourhood most Singaporeans now know only as a tourist attraction. Another is Imperial Creatures by Timothy P. Barnard, which looks at the interaction between humans and animals in colonial Singapore.
The prize will be a biennial affair, and the organisers are looking to expand it to include other categories in the future. The book of the year will be chosen from subsidiary award winners, and the overall winner will receive the Singapore Book Award trophy, which consists of a gold-coloured shield engraved with the state arms. The winner will be honoured at a special ceremony next month. The competition will be held in conjunction with the biennial Singapore Book Fair, which this year is being held from October 22 to 26.