On July 16th, the 2024 Singapore Literature Prize (SLP) shortlist was revealed, consisting of 71 works and writers nominated across 18 categories by the Singapore Book Council. New and veteran writers alike are represented on this year’s list; winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony scheduled to take place this August. Novels, poetry and nonfiction written in English comprise this shortlist as well as children’s literature for which there will be separate categories this time around – this marks just its second inclusion into SLP!
The NUS Singapore History Prize, established in 2014, is an international competition dedicated to works focusing on Singapore history. It aims to increase interest and understanding about Singapore’s rich and complex past by making it accessible and more approachable for a wider audience. The prize accepts both fiction and nonfiction written or translated into English from creators from any nationality or background.
Hidayah Amin won the 2021 NUS Singapore History Prize with her work Leluhur: Singapore’s Kampong Gelam – chronicling its development over 200 years – while Professor John Miksic won in 2022 for Singapore And The Silk Road Of The Sea, 1300-1800 which compiles 25 years of archaeological research to reconstruct 14th-century Port Singapore.
On November 7th in Singapore, Prince William will attend the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony initiated by him and his Royal Foundation charity to encourage innovative solutions to protect and restore our planet. During his stay, he will also meet local organizations that are combating illegal wildlife trade estimated at $20 billion each year.
He last visited Singapore with Princess Catherine in 2012, making this visit his inaugural solo journey. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon will likely meet him during this four-day stay, while they also expect him to visit The Istana palace, one of Singapore’s oldest heritage sites.
Professor Gertjan Medema from KWR Water Research Institute will be present in Singapore to accept his award, having revolutionized wastewater-based epidemiology for virus detection in water, speeding response to Covid-19 pandemic. The prize, valued at S$50,000, will be presented by Ministry of Environment and Water Resources during a ceremony hosted at National Museum of Singapore on Wednesday; for more information about accessing live webcast of ceremony click here; it is free access.