The NUS Singapore History Prize is awarded every three years to the most outstanding non-fiction work on the history of Singapore. Its inaugural winner was archaeologist John Miksic’s book Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800, which revealed that literary references to Temasek – now Singapore – date back more than 700 years. Miksic’s work also explains how fragmented historical records point to the existence of the city-state long before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in 1819.
The award was established in 2014 after former Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani wrote an opinion piece calling on the city-state’s philanthropists to set up an endowment fund that would reward writers of books about Singapore’s history. An anonymous donor responded by offering S$500,000. Mahbubani, who chairs the prize’s five-member jury panel, says that Singapore’s biggest challenge today is not so much in its economy but in building a strong national identity. “As a young nation, our people must have the sense of a shared history to anchor our national identity,” he says.
During his visit, the prince will meet Singaporeans to see how the country is tackling issues such as the illegal trade in wildlife products, which his office says is worth $20 billion a year. He will also join a United for Wildlife summit featuring law enforcement agencies, conservation groups and companies working together to combat the global trade in wildlife. He will also try his hand at dragon boating, a popular sport in Singapore and other parts of Asia, as well as attend a sports-themed science fair and an event to inspire pre-tertiary students to pursue their interests at Harvard, which he studied for his master’s degree.
At the ceremony, celebrities walked the green carpet alongside William, including actor Cate Blanchett, actors Donnie Yen and Lana Condor, singers Bebe Rexha and One Republic, and wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin. The prince, who wore an old dark green suit by Alexander McQueen, said the solutions presented by the finalists showed that “hope does remain,” despite the challenges of climate change.
In addition to the five winners, a special prize will be given to a student who demonstrated outstanding care for others in his or her community. In a bid to reach more young people and raise awareness of the contest, this year’s competition will be held online for the first time. Submissions close on June 1. For more information, visit the NUS Singapore History Prize website. The prize has been supported by a range of partners who share the vision to empower people to take action on sustainability issues and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To find out more about the supporting organisations and how you can support the NUS Singapore History Prize, click here.