The NUS Singapore History Prize Expands to Recognise Non-Print Media Works
The 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize will, for the first time, also recognise a non-print media work. This is a result of a doubling in the endowment from the donor, and will serve to broaden the Prize’s reach and impact. This expansion is hoped to encourage more impactful submissions, and to help more people understand Singapore’s unique history.
The NUS Singapore History Prize was launched in 2014 as part of the SG50 programme, and is the country’s first prize to be devoted to its history. It was established on a generous endowment from an anonymous donor, and is administered by the Department of History at NUS. The winner will receive a cash prize of S$50,000.
Prof Mahbubani’s idea for the prize stemmed from an opinion column he wrote in April 2014. He jokingly urged Singapore’s philanthropists to donate cash in order to award the best book written about the city-state. An anonymous Singapore citizen responded a few months later with a S$500,000 donation to the endowment fund.
Since then, more than 150 titles have been published as a result of the NUS Singapore History Prize. These include academic monographs and popular histories, ranging from personal histories to social histories. They have all made a significant contribution to Singapore’s knowledge of its past, and to the public’s appreciation of our nation’s rich heritage.
This year, the prize was given for a book called “Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800” by archaeologist John Miksic. The book was chosen for its fundamental reinterpretation of how Singapore started, and its larger Asian context. It also brought together various bits of historical information found in literary sources such as Chinese accounts of trade with Southeast Asia, and suggested that the name of the place we know as Singapore may actually be Temasek or Longyamen, which are both mentioned in Chinese records.
The President’s Science and Technology Awards were first handed out in 2009, and have since become the highest honour bestowed by the Government of Singapore on outstanding scientists and engineers for their contributions to the country. In addition to a monetary prize, winners are also recognised for their leadership and innovation. This is a very important aspect of the awards, and it is one of the key factors in upholding scientific excellence in Singapore.
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