A renowned archaeologist, an author with a personal focus and a book detailing Singapore history are among the finalists for this year’s inaugural Singapore Prize of $50,000. Kishore Mahbubani of Straits Times opinion columnist Kishore Mahbubani proposed this award based on Benedict Anderson’s theory that nations are formed through shared imagination. Historians play an essential role in helping us reimagine both past and future,” according to Professor Mahbubani who chaired this year’s jury panel who awarded NUS historian John Miksic’s book Singapore And The Silk Road Of The Sea 1300-1800 as this year’s inaugural winner of this prize of $50K award.
Other finalists for the biennial prize include architects Budi Prajot and Tito Supriatna for their Kampung Admiralty community building in Indonesia that won top honour at 2017 World Architecture Festival; and an initiative led by GRST, WildAid Marine Programme, S4S Technologies and Boomitra that uses wastewater data to identify COVID-19 trends. On Tuesday (November 7), Prince William as patron for both WAF and Inside awards programmes will attend to meet winners and finalists and discover “how they are working to repair our damaged planet”. He will meet winners and finalists, as well as “explore how they are finding solutions that help our damaged planet”.
At this event, there will also be a United for Wildlife global summit featuring law enforcement agencies, conservation groups, corporations and organisations working to combat an estimated US$20 billion annual trade in illegal wildlife products. Prince William will participate in dragon boat racing (popular around the world) as well as visit local organizations that work towards protecting wildlife and supporting communities in need.
Other noteworthy events during this week will include special awards presented by WAF and Inside, and Singapore hosting Earthshot Week; with global leaders, business people, investors and start-up founders gathering in Singapore ‘to explore opportunities with The Earthshot Prize 2023 Winners and Finalists, according to organizers.”
This year, an Earthshot Prize for Innovation and Impact will be added to the award – honouring projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to solving pressing environmental challenges such as water scarcity or climate change. This category will be announced alongside 2023 winners of main prizes at an awards ceremony hosted by Mediacorp Theater in Singapore on Tuesday (November 7).
This year’s WAF and Inside awards judging panels consist of more than 140 leading architects, designers, journalists, industry experts from all around the world – such as Kelley Cheng, Sanjay Puri, Mariana Simas, Sonali Rastogi, Emre Arolat Mario Cucinella Charles Bonnet and Ian Ritchie among many more! You can view shortlists here or submit entries by 31 October for consideration for main WAF/Inside awards – submissions will be reviewed free-of-charge!
