The prize, which is given every three years, recognizes publications in English that have made a significant contribution to our understanding of Singapore’s history. Nominations may address any period, theme, or field of Singaporean history, and can be written or translated from any nationality. The NUS Singapore History Prize will be awarded by a jury that includes historians, literary figures, educators, museum curators, and scholars in related disciplines.

The winner of the prize receives a cash award of $50,000 Singapore dollars, as well as a public announcement and promotion through media channels. All shortlisted books will be listed on the program website, and the winning book will be featured in an exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore. The NUS Singapore History Prize is administered by the Department of History at NUS.

NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani launched the prize in a Straits Times column last year, writing that nations are “imagined communities,” and a shared imagination, particularly through literature, is the glue that holds them together. He urged publishers to support the prize because it would encourage writers to look back and think about their place in the world.

In a ceremony at the Ritz Carlton Millenia, 2023 winners of the inaugural award were feted with an exclusive dinner and cocktails. The night’s hosts included celebrity chef Luke Mangan, who prepared the evening’s meal for the guests. The awards ceremony was held in the hotel’s main ballroom and celebrated the rise of new leaders who are pushing the boundaries of science, innovation, and globalization.

The awards were presented by the President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam. During his welcome address, the President noted that the HOFS Awards are an important platform for individuals to share their stories of achievement and success with the community. He also emphasized the importance of sustainability, which was the theme for this year’s event.

One of the award winners, Muhammad Dinie from ITE College Central, shared about his team’s initiative to thank town council cleaners for their work during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The project involved going around Ang Mo Kio estates and handing out packed food, groceries, and thank-you cards to cleaners.

Other winners of the HOFS awards were business leader Michael Ludwig, who has led a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, and Professor Joseph S. Yip, who specializes in cellular immunology and genomics. The award ceremony was attended by the Honorable Minister Panalee Chanracjakul, Counsellor for the Royal Thai Embassy, and other delegates from various niche sectors. For more on the HOFS Awards, check out Publishing Perspectives’ coverage. Our full list of awards-related articles is here. And to keep up with our regular features on the book publishing scene in Singapore, subscribe here. This is our 131st awards-related report in the year since our 2022 operations began on January 3. See all of our reports here. And follow us on Twitter. Thanks for reading.