In Singapore, prize promotions (also known as sweepstakes) and competitions are specifically excluded from gambling regulations. As such, they are legal provided that participants do not pay to participate; the prizes are not cash or other similar valuables; and the terms and conditions for participation are clearly and unambiguously stated. However, there may be tax implications if the winning prize is more than S$10,000.

The NUS Singapore History Prize will be awarded to a non-fiction historical book about Singapore written and published in English or translated during the previous 30 months. It will be based on primary and secondary sources, including academic literature. It will also examine the impact of the events and how they were interpreted by ordinary people. The 2024 winner will be chosen by a five-member Jury Panel that includes Mr Mahbubani; archaeologist Prof John Miksic, who won the 2018 prize for his book Singapore And The Silk Road Of The Sea; historian and author Dr Lam San Ling, the founding director of the National Institute of Education’s History Research Centre; Prof Tan Tai Yong, President of NUS’ Faculty of Social Sciences; and Prof Peter A. Coclanis, director of the Global Research Institute at the University of North Carolina.

Prof Medema’s work is based on the innovative use of wastewater as a source of information about trends in COVID-19 circulation, which are then used to inform public health interventions and policies. This tightens the connections between the water and health sectors and has helped reduce the time needed for outbreak response, he said. “It is a privilege to receive this award in recognition of the efforts of many colleagues from the water sector worldwide in collecting wastewater COVID-19 data, which are used to guide society’s response to the pandemic,” he added.

The NUS prize is part of the broader Earthshot Prize, an ambitious global initiative founded by Prince William in 2020 to protect and restore our planet. The Earthshot Week awards event, held in November, will see global leaders and businesses convene in Singapore to explore exciting opportunities with TEP winners and finalists. They will have the opportunity to accelerate and scale their solutions for our common future, as well as gain a deeper understanding of their environmental challenges from experts and peers.

The NUS Prize is supported by the NUS Department of History and a number of industry partners, including the Asia Research Institute, Temasek Foundation, the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Foundation, National Environment Agency (NEA), PUB, Home Team Science and Technology Agency, and Singapore International Water Week organisers. NUS will host the Earthshot Week awards ceremony at its campus on 7 November. The public is invited to attend the free-to-attend event. More information on the Earthshot Week programme can be found here. In addition to the awards ceremony, NUS will host a series of workshops for business leaders and entrepreneurs interested in using their skills and resources to solve major climate and clean energy challenges.