The NUS Singapore History Prize, created in 2014, seeks to broaden definitions of what constitutes a historical work by inviting works that explore a wide range of perspectives and themes. It is administered by the Department of History at NUS’ Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The Prize is open to writers of all nationalities and to works that address any time period, theme or field of Singapore history.
The 2023 winners were announced at a star-studded ceremony in Singapore. The winning organisations were Accion Andina, GRST, WildAid Marine Programme, S4S Technologies and Boomitra. Each organisation received a cash prize of US$100,000, an engraved trophy and will receive mentorship and support from the Earthshot Foundation to help scale their efforts.
In a sign of how global the search for solutions is, the winners were selected by a panel of judges from around the world. They were chosen because of their demonstrated impact and potential for replication in other cities across the globe.
William’s trip to Singapore is part of a global tour to announce the 2023 Earthshot Prize winners and celebrate innovations that are helping solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including climate change. He has previously visited London and Boston to launch the prize, which takes its name from President John F Kennedy’s 1962 “moonshot” speech – challenging Americans to reach the moon by the end of that decade.
NUS’s award-winning researchers have helped to develop cutting-edge solutions in the areas of regenerative agriculture, water, energy and food security. They are also involved in driving public awareness and public-private partnerships to accelerate the pace of innovation and create more sustainable, resilient and inclusive societies.
During his four-day visit to Singapore, the Prince will call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon and meet with leaders at the The Istana palace, one of the nation’s oldest heritage sites. He will also spend time with young people to hear their views and ideas on how to tackle climate change, Kensington Palace said in a statement.
In his address at the event, the Prince will highlight how Singapore’s bold vision to be a global leader in environmental innovation is helping to transform our planet for the better. He will also encourage local companies to work together with international partners to leverage Singapore’s strengths and global connections.
As part of the ceremony, the Prince will plant a Tembusu sapling at the Jewel. It is the first time a foreign or local dignitary has planted a tree at this landmark site. He will also mark the occasion by launching the first-ever SG50-Earthshot Prize Sustainability Fund, which is a US$1 million fund that aims to spur collaboration between local and international companies to scale their innovative solutions in sustainable urban development. This will be in partnership with The Climate-KIC Innovation Fund, a US$100 million fund that will support innovative projects to reduce carbon emissions and climate risk. This partnership will enable the Prize to catalyse investments in promising cleantech start-ups in Asia and beyond.