The Singapore Prize is a renowned award given to scientists and technologists who have significantly contributed to the advancement of Singapore. It is conferred annually by President Lee of Singapore, consisting of three distinct awards – President’s Science Award, Technology Award and Young Scientist Award.
Sir Stamford Raffles Prize, established by an act of parliament in 1959 and administered by National Research Foundation annually recognizes individuals whose efforts have made significant contributions towards Singapore’s development.
Additionally, the prize offers several special awards and grants to recognize outstanding scientific achievements, including the President’s Science and Technology Award, Young Scientist Award and Public Interest Science and Technology Prize – which recognize individuals whose scientific work has had an impactful public presence through dissemination efforts.
Winners of the Singapore Prize are held up as role models within their communities and often receive support from family and organizations to continue their work. Many winners also travel to Singapore in order to present their projects or share expertise with members of local communities.
Khir Johari’s slim tome The Food of the Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through the Archipelago has won the biennial NUS Singapore History Prize and earned itself a cash prize of $50K. Johari is known for focusing his book around food history in Singapore for the first time – his book received praise for its meticulous research and richly illustrated format.
A brand-new award this year was the Readers’ Favourite award for English-language fiction, won by former Straits Times journalist Akshita Nanda’s debut novel Nimita’s Place about two women navigating life’s expectations across India and Singapore. Epigram Books titles tied for the English Poetry prize with Gaze Back by Tan Siok Sian winning first and The Sacred Rivers of Our Childhoods by Shek Lai taking second. Chia Joo Ming’s novel Kian Kok, set against the backdrop of Singapore 50’s 50th anniversary celebrations and Wong Koi Tet’s short story collection Black Panther won in Chinese fiction categories this year at the Singapore Literature Prize. Additionally, there was also an inaugural translation award presented this year – Sonny Liew won this one with The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye as his English-language work.