The Singapore Prize, launched in 1992 and running in four languages, celebrates research and innovation. This year, the program added a Readers’ Favorite exercise in which the public votes online for a favorite shortlisted book in each of the four categories. The winner in each category wins 1,000 Singapore dollars (US$720). This is the second time this has been offered, and organizers say the move is meant to highlight how books can resonate with readers.
The 2021 Singapore History Prize was won by Leluhur: Kampong Gelam, a book on the 14th century port of Singapore written by Hidayah Salleh. It was described as an “elegantly crafted and beautifully researched work,” with the citation adding that it showed how history is not just a synthesis but also a narrative that has to be told. The judges said that the book retold the past by using primary sources and bringing to light the many forgotten or neglected aspects of Singapore’s history.
Other winners included a team that recycles lithium-ion batteries and another that prevents illegal fishing. The companies, among five champions unveiled at a ceremony in Singapore, will receive PS1 million ($1.1 million) to scale their solutions and other support from the Earthshot Prize, which Prince William’s charity launched in 2020. The name of the prize references President John F Kennedy’s 1962 challenge to Americans to reach the moon by the end of the decade.
The prize money for the winners will be spent to expand their projects, and they will have a chance to apply for further funding from the prize’s granting body, the Global Challenge Foundation. In addition to the prize money, the finalists will participate in local activations in the hope of inspiring other people to tackle their challenges.
A total of 192 submissions were received for this year’s Singapore prize, a drop from the 224 that came in for last year’s competition. Organizers say the lower number of submissions reflects the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to the Singapore prizes, the PSTA hosts three distinct awards. Its President’s Science and Technology Medal recognizes researchers for pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge. The President’s Young Scientist Award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the nation. And the PSTA’s Singapore International Violin Competition awards cash and a commissioned trophy to violinists who perform concertos in the winning styles.
On his visit to Singapore, the heir to the British throne will meet with Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon. He’ll also host a series of events around the Earthshot Prize, including a summit focusing on the work of the prize’s finalists to address climate change. He’ll also call on the founders of a startup to help children learn about their heritage, and attend an event with a social enterprise that uses virtual experiential learning to improve youths’ wellbeing. The trip is part of his two-week visit to Asia. The next leg will take him to Japan.