The President’s Science and Technology Awards (PSTA) are Singapore’s highest accolades for scientific achievements. They were first given out in 2009. The winners of the prize are scientists who have contributed significantly to advancing human knowledge and bolstering the country’s global competitive edge, and are seen as pillars of Singapore’s scientific community.
The winners of the Singapore Prize were announced at a ceremony on Monday. The winner of the prize received a cash award of $1 million Singapore dollars ($753,579) and a trophy. It is the largest award for a single winner in Singapore’s history.
Kishore Mahbubani, a former diplomat who set up the prize with an anonymous donor in 2014, said that in the 21st century, Singapore’s biggest challenge is not economic but developing a national identity through a strong sense of history. He called for the development of a “moonshot” mentality that challenges people to achieve ambitious goals in various fields.
This year, the Singapore Prize had 26 submissions, which judges commended for their quality. The quality led judges to issue, for the first time, two special commendations without attendant cash awards. These were Reviving Qixi: The Seven Sisters Festival by Lynn Wong and Lee Kok Leong, and Theatres of Memory: Industrial Heritage of 20th Century Singapore by Loh Kah Seng, Alex Tan, Koh Keng We, and Tan Teng Phee.
A record number of applications were submitted for this year’s award. Of the shortlisted entries, six were awarded prizes. The winning submissions were:
The coveted Singapore Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the world. It is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of human knowledge and culture, especially in the sciences, social sciences, and arts.
Each year, a team of judges selects the top 20 submissions for the shortlist. These works are then evaluated in depth by a panel of experts who select the final 10 winners. The judging criteria for this year’s competition is available on the official website of the Singapore Prize.
The top 20 artists will be notified on or before 23 December and the judges’ choice will be announced at a public event. The winners will receive a cash prize of S$1,400, and their school will be given a grant of S$3,500.
The organisers of the competition said that they aim to encourage students to explore their creativity, build self-confidence and enhance teamwork skills. Participants must be nominated by their teachers and can submit up to three artworks. The judges’ selection will be based on the creativity and originality of each work. The winning works will be featured in an exhibition at the Singapore Museum of Contemporary Art, and will also be published online. The exhibition will open to the public on Jan 14. The winning students also get to perform at a concert with the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music orchestra and conductor Joshua Kangming Tan. The concert will be held on Feb 11. More information can be found at the festival’s official website.