The President’s Science and Technology Awards (PSTA), the highest accolade bestowed by Singapore, honour scientists who are pushing the frontiers of research and innovation. They are at the heart of Singapore’s thriving economy, contributing to the country’s competitive advantage and a brighter future for all.
This year, the prize programme has a new name and format. Previously known as the National Science and Technology Awards, the PSTA was elevated to Presidential status in 2009.
Earlier this month, the inaugural Singapore History Prize was awarded in support of SG50’s programmes marking the nation’s five decades of independence. The NUS history department launched the prize in 2014 as a way to spur interest and engagement with the island’s past, while making the complexities of its storied development more accessible to a wider audience.
It also aims to encourage discussion about the nation’s identity and its place in the world. Applicants can submit non-fiction books written in English, Mandarin and Tamil on the subject of Singapore’s history or culture. The winner receives a cash prize of S$50,000.
One of this year’s shortlisted authors is archaeologist John Miksic, whose 491-page tome Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800 was declared the inaugural winner on January 11. The prize was sparked by an opinion column Prof Kishore Mahbubani wrote in April, calling for philanthropists to offer a cash prize to the best book on Singapore’s history. A newly minted Singapore citizen stepped forward a few months later, offering S$500,000 on the condition that his identity remain anonymous.
As of this writing, there are a total of 12 winners in the biennial Singapore Literature Prize (2022) in English, Malay and Tamil. The prize’s organizer, the Singapore Book Council (SBC), is also running a Readers’ Favorite exercise where readers can vote online for their favorite of the shortlisted titles in each language.
The 2024 prize has a longlist of 49 titles, which is 32 fewer than the number submitted in 2020 and reflects the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on international publishing there. In addition to the main prize, this year there are three runner-ups in each of the four languages. The shortlist is available here.
