SINGAPORE, April 21, 2023 – In 2053, people could be living much longer lives, using new technology and shopping in the metaverse – all part of everyday life. A brand new nationwide storytelling competition, ‘Future Forecast’ – jointly organised by Temasek and The Straits Times (ST) – is now inviting secondary to tertiary level students in Singapore to showcase their creativity, imagination and observations of current trends, and to share their vision of how the world could look like in the year 2053.

From today until 31 July 2023, students can submit their ‘Future Forecast’ in the form of an essay of 1,000 to 1,500 words, an illustration of (one to two A4 pages), or a video of one to three minutes, based on one or more of the following themes: Digitisation, Sustainable Living, Future of Consumption and Longer Lifespans.

Said Ms Chan Wai Ching, Temasek’s Chief Corporate Officer: “The themes in this competition are based on four key structural trends that guide Temasek’s investment focus and long-term portfolio construction. We believe that these trends will lead to innovative solutions that can benefit both people and the planet, and we’re excited for the next generation to be engaging with these important issues through their sense of creativity and critical thinking.”

20 winners will be selected from the two categories: 10 from Category 1 (secondary schools, junior colleges or equivalent*), and another 10 from Category 2 (institutes of higher learning, such as Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities). All winners will not only receive a cash prize of S$1,000 each, but also have the opportunity to attend storytelling workshops conducted by ST and Temasek. Winners from Category 2 will also be invited to take part in a short attachment programme with Temasek.

In addition, the public will be able to show their support by voting for their favourite works after the top 20 have been announced in September 2023. The students behind the highest-voted entries from each category will take home an iPad Pro.

Mr Jaime Ho, Editor of ST, said: “The Straits Times has always sought to encourage conversations in society about our collective future. Here, we hope to bring the younger generation together, not just to acknowledge challenges such as technology-driven disruption and environmental sustainability, but more importantly, also to envision innovations that could bring about solutions to some of these problems.”

Interested participants can visit futureforecast.sg or str.sg/ff2023 for more ideas, prompts, and competition details.

* Includes Integrated Programme, International Baccalaureate and Centralised Institutes

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For media queries, please contact:

Sylvester Long
Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, Temasek
Tel: +65 9736 7511
Email: sylvesterlong@temasek.com.sg 

Rebekah Seow
Associate, Public Affairs, Temasek
Tel: +65 9642 4691
Email: rebekahseow@temasek.com.sg

Trina Chan
SPH Media
Corporate Communications & CSR
DID: +65 6319 1982
Email: tchan@sph.com.sg

About Temasek

Temasek is an investment company with a net portfolio value of S$403 billion (US$297b, €268b, £227b, RMB1.89t) as at 31 March 2022. Headquartered in Singapore, we have 12 offices in 8 countries around the world.

Our Purpose “So Every Generation Prospers” guides us to make a difference for today’s and future generations. Our Temasek Charter defines our three roles as an Investor, Institution and Steward, and shapes our ethos to do well, do right and do good.

Sustainability is at the core of all that we do. We are committed to catalysing solutions to global challenges and activating capital – financial, human, social and natural – to bring about a better and more inclusive world for all.

For more information on Temasek, please visit www.temasek.com.sg

Connect with us on social media: Facebook (Temasek); LinkedIn (Temasek); Twitter (@Temasek); Instagram (@temasekseen); YouTube (TemasekDigital); Telegram (Temasek) and WeChat (temasek_digital).      

About SPH Media

SPH Media is a leading media group, with operations in the publishing of newspapers, magazines, and books in both print and digital editions. It also owns and operates other businesses such as radio stations and outdoor media. The mission of SPH Media is to be the trusted source of news on Singapore and Asia, to represent the communities that make up Singapore, and to connect them to the world. The businesses are held by SPH Media Trust, a public company limited by guarantee. For more information on SPH Media, please visit www.sph.com.sg, and our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About The Straits Times 

The Straits Times, the English-language flagship daily of SPH Media Trust, is the most-read newspaper in Singapore and is followed widely in the region for its comprehensive multimedia coverage of local, regional and world news, provided by its correspondents in 12 bureaus in major cities worldwide.  

Launched on July 15, 1845, The Straits Times has been moving with the times in its efforts to engage and grow its audience and exploring innovative ways of storytelling, as well as continuously refreshing its products to maintain quality and stay relevant to the changing needs of its readers. Its integrated newsroom operates round-the-clock, providing content as it happens on all platforms, from its website at www.straitstimes.com, Apple and Android apps to social media. 

The Straits Times is a member of two media networks - the Asia News Network and the Impact Journalism Day alliance of newspapers - and it has won multiple international media awards, including from the Society of Publishers in Asia, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association (Panpa), Society of News Design and WAN-IFRA. Its multimedia newsroom and innovative projects were recognised at the Asian Digital Media Awards 2020 presented by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), when it clinched a Gold for Best in Lifestyle, Sports, Entertainment Website or Mobile Services. The Straits Times also won the INMA Global Media Awards in 2020 for its campaign that tailored news on COVID-19 for students.