Besides the monetary prizes, winners also get to enjoy a slew of other benefits. One of these is the chance to be featured on a digital platform by Singapore Pools, allowing them to reach a wider audience. The other is the opportunity to take part in a series of workshops and networking sessions with fellow winners. The winner will also be given the chance to speak on an episode of the podcast “Telakoh dan Besar” by local broadcaster MediaCorp.
The winners are chosen by an independent panel consisting of experts in the fields of education, business and arts. The judges look at the quality of the submissions, as well as their ability to make a positive impact on society and the economy. The winner will receive the SGP Prize trophy, and a prize money of up to S$50,000. In addition, they will also be offered an opportunity to work with a prestigious global organisation or institute.
Winners will also be given the opportunity to be mentored by industry leaders and have access to funding and resources from the Singapore Government. They will be able to leverage this relationship with the sponsor organisation to help grow their businesses and increase employment opportunities.
Khir Johari’s The Food of the Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through the Archipelago has been awarded the triennial NUS Singapore History Prize, beating five other shortlisted books. The NUS History Prize was created in 2014 to recognise works that have made a lasting impact on our understanding of Singapore’s history. It was the first time the book won a Singapore literary award, but it has previously won the Gourmand Food Culture Prize, known as the Oscars of the cookbook world, in 2023. Its success at the NUS History Prize underscores its scholarly ambition, which stretches beyond superficial impressions of it being a coffee-table book. The prize was mooted in a Straits Times column by NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani, who said that the prize would honour books that “expand our shared imagination of Singapore’s past”.
In line with its sustainability theme, this year’s event was held at the new Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and was hosted by actors Hannah Waddingham and Sterling K. Brown, and musicians Bebe Rexha and One Republic. It was attended by a number of dignitaries, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. William wore an old dark green suit from Alexander McQueen and other presenters walked down the “green carpet,” wearing dresses by a Singapore-based designer who specializes in eco-friendly clothing.
The SGP Prize ceremony will be hosted by conservation organisation Conservation International (CI), which brings a long track record of spotlighting the benefits of biodiversity and sustainable development, and a vast network that connects prize winners to partners committed to scalable solutions for people and nature. In addition, CI’s in-depth knowledge of conservation programmes and sustainability financing across Southeast Asia will help guide the selection process for this year’s SGP Prize winners.
