Among the winners of this year’s singapore prize is a team that is developing a new material that can prevent oil from seeping out of a damaged pipeline. The material will also be able to slow down the flow of the oil, which will reduce the amount of time that a pipeline needs to be shut down for repairs. Another winner is a team that is working to develop an artificial intelligence tool that can help detect a potential pipe burst from the surface before it happens. This will help prevent pipelines from bursting due to old age or corrosion.
Several winners from the category of science and technology were announced at a ceremony in Singapore hosted by Prince William. He looked coordinated with the ceremony’s host Hannah Waddingham, who wore a long black sparkling ball gown and a green sash that matched the thick green carpet they walked down. The prince, who is also a philanthropist, handed out the prizes in recognition of those making contributions to society.
In a bid to foster better collaboration between government officials and academics, a network has been launched in Singapore. The network is part of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, which brings together cities from all over the world to share ideas on how to tackle urban challenges.
The network will include past winners of the prize, such as Bilbao in Spain, Suzhou in China and Vienna in Austria, as well as other major cities in Asia. It will bring together representatives from the winning cities and their local organisations, to collaborate on projects and exchange best practices.
The National University of Singapore’s Department of History has launched the inaugural Singapore Prize, a book award that will spur engagement with Singapore’s history and make its complexities and nuances more accessible to non-academic audiences. The prize, which carries a cash reward of $50,000, will be awarded every three years.
It will be open to non-fiction works on Singapore’s history and culture written in English, Mandarin or Tamil, as well as comics/graphic novels and translation. The winner will be selected by a four-member jury, led by NUS professor and historian Mahbubani.
The prize was established in memory of Christopher Bathurst KC, Viscount Bledisloe, who was a senior partner with Fountain Court Chambers and a prominent barrister with a practice that included substantial work on Asia-related matters. It is also a tribute to his dedication to the arts and his interest in Singapore’s heritage and culture. It will be supported by funds from private donors and the Lee Foundation. The winning entries will be published by NUS Press and distributed locally and internationally. They will also be showcased in exhibitions at the NUS Museum of Asian Civilisations. NUS will also host workshops and discussions with the authors to give them an opportunity to discuss their work. Those interested in applying can find more details on the NUS website. The application window closes on Jan 28.