The Singapore Prize was first introduced in 2014 to commemorate Singapore’s 50th Anniversary of independence, administered by NUS Department of History. As its inaugural prize dedicated to nation history, it aims to encourage citizens to appreciate Singapore’s past while encouraging an understanding of and appreciation for it. The winner receives S$50,000.
This award recognizes outstanding published works written in one or more of Singapore’s official languages: Chinese, English, Malay or Tamil. It serves to encourage literary excellence within Singapore while celebrating local literary traditions.
This year’s shortlisted publications comprise historical research, fiction and non-fiction works covering various aspects of our nation’s 200 year history. The judges were especially impressed with how these authors brought multiple perspectives and contexts together into one work allowing readers to take an engaging journey into its rich past.
Prasanthi’s work “demonstrates skillful writing, assured style, and even some humorous elements to explore the ways women inflict damage upon themselves and their families,” as noted by the jury in a statement. Beachlight contains stories that explore family dynamics as well as ways women must choose between their happiness and that of others.
Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute, presided over a five-member jury to select the winning work from among a short list of six submitted publications by both local and international scholars. Other members included Professor John N. Miksic of NUS Department of Southeast Asian Studies; Professor Tan Tai Yong President of Singapore University of Social Sciences; Peter A Coclanis Director of Global Research Institute University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and economist Dr Lam San Ling.
Earthshot Week will provide this year’s winners with additional support in scaling up their climate change solutions with support from local partners, through events hosted at Mediacorp Campus from November 6-14.
Prince William noted during the award ceremony that this year’s prize winners demonstrate there is hope in an ever-more-serious climate change scenario, adding: ‘I hope that The Earthshot Prize 2023 winners use this as an opportunity to accelerate and scale their solutions, thus making our world better for everyone.’
On March 27th, 2023 winners were honored at a gala dinner attended by over 600 guests, with prizes provided by Temasek Trust (Government of Singapore’s investment arm) as well as GenZero and Conservation International as sponsors. Winning organizations will be profiled in a special documentary series airing globally starting November.