Day: May 8, 2024

National University of Singapore’s Department of History has introduced the Singapore Prize as part of programs commemorating SG50. Established with a donation from late Confucian scholar and philanthropist Dr Alan Chan, its inaugural award received 43 submissions. NUS administers this first book prize dedicated solely to Singapore history since 2014. Vincent Tong’s biography of one of Singapore’s most dangerous gangsters – Sam Hua – who was responsible for multiple deaths has been named winner of this year’s Singapore Literary Prize. A four-member jury led by NUS East Asian Institute Chairman Wang Gungwu selected it. Recently established is the Singapore Water Prize to honour those who have contributed to protecting and enhancing our aquatic environment. It was unveiled by NUS President Dame Professor Cheong Hee Kiat; winning projects will be chosen by an expert jury made up of academics, artists and industry professionals and announced in October 2021. In 2014, the NUS Singapore History Prize was established to enliven interest and discussion about Singapore’s long history and place in the world. The prize was the brainchild of Kishore Mahbubani of NUS Asia Research Institute; his column in The Straits Times inspired its inception by noting Benedict Anderson’s statement “that nations are imagined communities”. With shared histories as an anchoring factor between individuals, societies can now have greater cohesion. Sonny Liew has achieved international renown for his graphic novel The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye. This groundbreaking graphic novel won several prestigious Eisner awards – the Oscars of comics world. This year’s NUS Singapore History Prize – administered by NUS Press in conjunction with their department of history – saw a book exploring the roots of modern Singaporean Malay cuisine as one of its merit winners. Published by Marshall Cavendish and written by food historian Khir Johari. Prince William of Britain helped launch this year’s Earthshot Prize by selecting 15 finalists that include solar-powered dryer makers from India, a soil carbon marketplace and groups dedicated to restoring Andean forests and deterring illegal fishing as examples of solutions demonstrating there was hope for climate change mitigation. He will visit Singapore later on Friday and see these projects first-hand while trying his hand at dragon boating with local Singaporeans, plus meeting people working towards protecting our planet – for more details click here or follow us on social media like Facebook Instagram Twitter or Telegram for up-dates