The winners of the Singapore prize were chosen for their “unselfish and steadfast devotion to helping others.” They are not just accomplished individuals, but caring people who have dedicated themselves to making a difference in the lives of others. Their efforts have been sustained over a period of time, and their acts of kindness and care have touched and inspired others to do the same. They are true role models, and Singaporeans are proud of them for making the world a better place.
In a way, the Singapore prize is the country’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. It aims to reward scientists who uphold research excellence and strengthen the growing community of science talent in Singapore. The winners are chosen by a panel of judges who are experts in their respective fields. The award is one of the highest honours bestowed by the government to scientists and engineers in Singapore.
This year’s awards ceremony will be held in May. The winning projects were selected from a pool of over 130 nominations. The projects ranged from a mobile clinic that treats patients in remote areas to the development of a reusable artificial kidney, which could lower the cost of dialysis treatment. Among the winners, the e-waste initiative by Dr Ayan Gopinathan and his team was recognized for its contribution in reducing the amount of discarded electronic waste in the region.
Athletes have to make a substantial financial commitment to reach the top of their sport. Moreover, they have to endure grueling training over long periods of time, with only a small percentage ending up on the podium at major games. To encourage the best athletes, the Singapore National Olympic Council devised an incentive scheme in the 1990s that pays medalists a bonus for their efforts.
NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani mooted the idea for a Singapore prize in his Straits Times column in 2014. The prize’s nominating committee reviewed 31 books submitted by publishers and selected five authors from among them to be shortlisted. Besides Sembawang and Home Is Where We Are, they are Imperial Creatures (2019, available here), by Timothy P. Barnard, whose novel examines the interaction between humans and animals in colonial Singapore; and State of Emergency (2017, here), by Jeremy Tiang, which looks at leftist political movements and detentions in both Singapore and Malaysia.