The winners of this year’s singapore prize were announced at a ceremony in Singapore on Monday. The event was attended by leaders from business, government, and academia as well as a host of celebrities, including former Tatler cover star Ellie Goulding and football legend David Beckham.
The awards celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to Singapore’s science and technology landscape. This includes individuals and teams that have pushed the boundaries of scientific research. In addition, the awards also honour those who have raised the profile of Singapore’s science and technology community.
This year’s winners of the President’s Science and Technology Awards (PSTA) are Dmytro Udovychenko, Anna Agafia Egholm, and Angela Sin Ying Chan. The violinists will each receive USD $100,000 in cash, as well as multiple concert engagements. They were selected by a jury comprising Qian Zhou, Martin Beaver, Martin T:son Engstroem, Lee Kyung Sun, Mihaela Martin, Joel Smirnoff, and Tsu Vera Weiling.
For the first time, the PSTA is introducing an Innovation Prize to recognise innovations that have a high potential for impact and commercialisation. It is a new category that aims to promote innovation that will create societal value, address social challenges, and enhance economic competitiveness. The Innovation Prize will be awarded in addition to the President’s Science and Technology Award, President’s Technology Award, and Young Scientist Awards.
Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen presented the Defence Technology Prize to two individuals and four teams today at the DSO Auditorium. The award recognises innovations that have helped the Singapore Armed Forces maintain its edge in capabilities.
Mooted by Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow of the NUS Asia Research Institute, in a 2014 column for The Straits Times, the prize hopes to stimulate engagement with Singapore’s history, especially by making it accessible and engaging for non-academic readers. It is open to both fiction and non-fiction works, as long as they address a significant aspect of Singapore’s history.
The glitzy ceremony featured performances by the bands One Republic and Bastille, with singers Bebe Rexha and the actor Sterling K. Brown co-hosting. In line with the sustainability theme, the hosts and guests walked a “green carpet” made of recycled materials. In addition, William wore a 10-year-old dark green blazer from his personal collection, while Yen sported an Alexander McQueen dress. The event was also supported by sponsors including the National Kidney Foundation of Singapore, the American Institute in Singapore, and the SG50 Foundation. In addition, the prize’s board members include the United Nations Special Envoy for Youth, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and entrepreneur Bill Gates. It is expected that the prizes will be worth more than US$1.5 million in total.