2016 Prime Minister’s Science Prizes

4 July 2016 Media Release

Strong interest expected in 2016 Prime Minister’s Science Prizes

Entries for the 2016 Prime Minister’s Science Prizes are now open (from 4 July, 2016), with changes to some entry criteria expected to generate strong interest from New Zealand’s world-leading researchers and others in the science and technology sectors.

The prizes, worth a combined value of $1 million across five categories, aim to raise the profile and prestige of science among New Zealanders.

A key change for the major $500,000 prize is a greater emphasis on the impact of the research in New Zealand or internationally by the winning entry.

Another change will see the MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist prize, worth $200,000, open to outstanding scientists who have completed their PhD in the previous eight years.

One of the biggest criteria changes will give more New Zealand teachers an opportunity to apply for the $150,000 Science Teacher Prize. This category is now open to registered teachers who teach at primary, intermediate or secondary schools, and to those teaching mathematics, technology and engineering, as well as science.

The Future Scientist Prize, which is open to Year 12 and Year 13 secondary school students, also incorporates the same range of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

Revised criteria also broaden the scope for science communicators, with this year’s Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize open to practising scientists, who are excellent communicators, and others who have developed expertise in communicating complex scientific or technological information to the public.

One of the 2015 winners of the Prime Minister’s Science Prize, Distinguished Professor Ian Reid from the University of Auckland, says the Prizes have proven to be an important innovation on the New Zealand science scene.

“They are an excellent way for the public to know what taxpayer funding of science in New Zealand has produced,” says Professor Reid, who won the Prize together with colleagues Associate Professors Mark Bolland and Andrew Grey, for research revealing the ineffectiveness of treating osteoporosis with calcium and Vitamin D.

The leader of the team that won the Prime Minister’s Science Prize in 2014, Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman from the University of Otago and the He Kainga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme, says the Prize was a huge boost in confidence for the researchers, and she attributes her appointment to two international science committees to the national accolade.

Since winning the 2013 Prime Minister’s Science Prize for world-leading inductive power transfer systems, Distinguished Professor John Boys and Professor Grant Covic from the University of Auckland have been able to employ additional PhD, post-doctoral students and other staff.

“We could never have made the progress that we have without the Prime Minister’s Science Prize and we are very grateful for it. It’s a great prize. It shows what we can do and the enormous capability and unbelievably capable people in New Zealand,” says Professor John Boys.

Entries for the 2016 Prizes close on 16 September. The Prizes will be presented in early 2017.

The Prime Minister’s Science Prize categories are:

The Prime Minister’s Science Prize, $500,000

This will be awarded to an individual or team for a transformative scientific discovery or achievement, which has had a significant economic, health, social and/or environmental impact on New Zealand or internationally

The Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize, $200,000

This will be awarded to an outstanding emerging scientist who has had their PhD conferred within the past eight years (i.e. from 1 January 2008 onwards)

The Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize, $150,000

This will be awarded to a registered teacher who has been teaching science, mathematics, technology, pūtaiao, hangarau or pāngarau learning areas of the New Zealand curriculum to school-age children in a primary, intermediate or secondary New Zealand registered school.

The Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize, $100,000

This will be awarded to a practising scientist who can demonstrate an interest, passion and aptitude for science communication and public engagement, or to a person who has developed expertise in public engagement with, or communication of, complex scientific or technological information to the public or science community.

The Prime Minister’s Future Scientist Prize, $50,000 tertiary scholarship

This will be awarded to a Year 12 or Year 13 student for outstanding achievement in carrying out a practical and innovative science, mathematics, technology or engineering project.

To find out more and to lodge entries visit:

www.pmscienceprizes.org.nz

ends

© Scoop Media