The NUS Singapore History Prize, administered by the Department of History at the National University of Singapore (NUS), is open to nonfiction and fiction works that deal with the history of Singapore, or that incorporate a substantial element of Singaporean history in their themes. The Prize is designed to cast a wide net for works that engage with the subject, in order to highlight the diverse and rich histories of Singapore and its peoples. It is awarded every three years.
The first winner was professor John Miksic, whose book Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800, traces archaeological evidence that points to the city’s roots going back 700 years. Miksic is a distinguished historian, who has specialised in Southeast Asia and China. He is also a former president of the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and his work has helped shape NUS’s history department.
In 2023, 91-year-old author Peter Ellinger won the English category of the Singapore Literature Prize for his memoir Down Memory Lane (2023). The book recounts important events in Ellinger’s life, and connects them to historical moments that span the 20th century. The judges commended the book’s “sheer breadth and depth”.
This year’s award ceremony featured an eco-friendly theme, with William and other presenters walking the red carpet on sustainable shoes made from recycled plastic bottles. The band One Republic, and actor Mbatha were among the performers. The prize’s sponsors included luxury retailer Hermès and the e-commerce platform Luxe.
This was the third time that NUS’s University Scholars Programme partnered with Ecosperity to support a student through a scholarship. The scholarships are given to graduating students who are not only academically excellent, but also demonstrate a strong commitment to interfaith dialogue or community service activities.
A new partnership with Conservation International (CI) will allow the prize to leverage CI’s expertise in biodiversity and vast network to select the winners. CI will be able to identify the most innovative projects that have the potential to accelerate solutions and bring about tangible action to repair our planet.
The winners will be presented with their prizes — which consist of a certificate and a gold medallion — by the President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam, at a gala event in September. Each shortlisted book will receive a monetary prize of S$10,000, with the winning work receiving an additional S$50,000 to cover travel and research costs.
NUS Press will publish the winner and the two runners-up in their respective languages. The full list of shortlisted books is available on the prize program website.
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