The President’s Science and Technology Awards (PSTA) is Singapore’s national-level recognition of scientific talent and achievement, first presented in 2009. As its highest honour bestowed upon scientists and engineers by the President of Republic of Singapore, these awards recognize their key contributions towards upholding research excellence while broadening Singapore’s community of scientific talent.
The PSTA is one of three annual awards presented by the President of Singapore to recognize individuals and organisations for making significant contributions towards advancing Singaporean society and economy through innovation, excellence and high impact research. The two others awards are: President’s Education Award and Youth Award.
NUS Singapore History Prize has taken steps to encourage Singaporeans to engage with their history in new and captivating ways, by creating an Arts and Multimedia Category for 2025-2027 competition. This new category will run parallel with Book Category submissions and accepts submissions from any artist, author, playwright, performer or producer of multimedia and artistic historical work presented in English (or works translated into that language) with the purpose of providing new insights or stirring memories of our glorious past.
Previous to its introduction of Arts and Multimedia category in response to a generous donation from an anonymous donor, the NUS Singapore History Prize had only ever considered books as submissions for consideration. Now, thanks to this anonymous donor’s gift, five judges on the Prize Panel will select criteria and determine winners on a three-year cycle with at least a year-ahead closing nomination dates announced as they announce this award ceremony.
On April 18 at SUSS, Dr. Alan HJ Chan Spirit of Singapore Book Prize was established through a $1 Million donation by Confucian scholar and entrepreneur Alan Chan. Launched to honor his mother, this prize aims to encourage writing that highlights mindsets and values central to Singaporean society – such as equality, diversity, religious harmony, meritocracy, pragmatism resilience as well as an emphasis on education community innovation creativity and intellectual property rights. It encapsulates the values and perseverance of Singapore’s founders who stayed true to their beliefs while working toward realising their vision. The inaugural prize winners were announced on May 5th. Epigram Books was awarded first prize for Nimita’s Place by Akshita Nanda of Straits Times journalist Akshita Nanda and Epigram Books shared the second place prize with Chia Joo Ming’s novel Kian Kok commemorating SG50; Wong Koi Tet won second place for Dakota about his forgotten housing estate where he grew up; each winner received $3,000, a trophy and 12-month Storytel audiobook gift subscriptions as prizes.