Student Researchers Realise their Dreams

Research projects have netted talented school students from around New Zealand more than $40,000 worth of prizes as well as trips to science fairs and competitions around the world. Twenty one awards were handed out at the Genesis Energy Realise the Dream prize giving at Te Marae, Te Papa on Monday night. The winning projects included a study of the effects of salmonella vaccination on sheep behaviour, a puzzle to help teach students maths, the design of a stretchy tent bag, and a wood powered engine.

The prize giving followed on from the Royal Society’s Realise the Dream week, which saw 29 students from throughout New Zealand come together to celebrate their outstanding achievements in research and technological practice. During the five-day event in Wellington, 7-12 December, students were involved in a range of science activities that allowed them to get a taste of what ‘real’ science is like. They visited many scientific organisations in Wellington, such as GNS science, the Island Bay Marine Education Centre, DOC, and the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. Their activities included a team exercise to build a sustainable and environmentally friendly school, and learning about forensic science.

At the prize giving, Cambridge High School student, Jake Martin (17), won 3 prizes for his wood powered engine: the Supreme Award for Research Excellence and Public Communication, sponsored by Genesis Energy; the Best research Year 12/13 Award, sponsored by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO; and a Travel Award to the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition, sponsored by Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Georgia Halcrow’s puzzle for teaching maths and allowing students to check their own work won her the Communication and inspiring other Young New Zealanders Award, sponsored by New Zealand South Pacific Kiwanis, and the Future Business Award, sponsored by Industrial Research Ltd, each worth $2,000.

Burnside High School student, Victor Kang (17), also won a Travel Award to the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition as well as the Researcher Design Award, sponsored by AgResearch, for his study of the mating preferences of endangered weta.

Chief Executive of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Dr Di McCarthy, said “The Royal Society believes that it is very important to be involved in science education. Realise the Dream is a fantastic way to celebrate and support excellent science and technology students; to develop future science and technology leaders; and to raise the profile of science and technology learning in schools. To all the participants, thank you for letting us be a part of your hard work, as it helps us to achieve our goals too.”


A full list of award winners (by region) is given below.

For more information, or to get in touch with any of the students, please contact debbie.woodhall@royalsociety.org.nz Tel (04) 470 5762 or 027 229 6380.

For pictures and summaries of all student projects, as well as information about the awards, see www.realisethedream.org.nz



WINNERS BY REGION

NORTHLAND REGION
Researching the Environment Award, sponsored by the Allan Wilson Centre ($2,000 cash)
Winner: Lauren Wing (17), Kerikeri High School

AUCKLAND REGION
Travel Award to the Taiwan International Science Fair, sponsored by DairyNZ
Winner: Abhilash Kamineni (16), Mt Roskill Grammar School

Peter Spratt Memorial Award, sponsored by the Royal Society of New Zealand ($2,000 cash)
Winner: Surita Manoa (11), Ponsonby Intermediate School

Counting on Data Award, sponsored by Statistics New Zealand ($2,000 cash)
Winner: Alyosha Yashin (14), Macleans College, Auckland

Research Implementation Award, sponsored by the Department of Conservation ($2,000 cash)
Winner: Alwin Lim (17), Mt Roskill Grammar School

Communication and Inspiring other Young New Zealanders Award, sponsored by the New Zealand South Pacific Kiwanis ($2,000 cash)
Winner: Georgia Halcrow (11), Murray’s Bay Intermediate School

Future Business Award, sponsored by Industrial Research Ltd ($2,000 cash)
Winner: Georgia Halcrow (11), Murray’s Bay Intermediate School

WAIKATO REGION
Travel Award to the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition, sponsored by Asia New Zealand Foundation
Winner: Jake Martin (17), Cambridge High School

Innovative Solutions Award, sponsored by Livestock Improvement Corporation ($2,000 cash)
Winner: Beth Hampton (12), Matamata Intermediate School, East Waikato

Best research Year 12/13 Award, sponsored by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO ($4,000 cash)
Winner: Jake Martin (17), Cambridge High School

Supreme Award for Research Excellence and Public Communication, sponsored by Genesis Energy ($7,000 cash award)
Winner: Jake Martin (17), Cambridge High School

BAY OF PLENTY AND EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY REGION
Travel Award to the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition, sponsored by Asia New Zealand Foundation
Winner: Melissa Thomson (17), Katikati College

MANAWATU REGION
Excellence in Analytical Testing Award, sponsored by Hill Laboratories ($2,000 cash)
Winner: Anna Palmer (15), Palmerston North Girls High School

WELLINGTON REGION
Our Future World Award, sponsored by the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand ($2,000 cash)
Winner: Liam Ellis (17), Hutt Valley High School

Health Research Award, sponsored by Fuelled 4 School (all expenses paid trip to attend the London International Youth Science Forum)
Winner: Nika Thomson (15), Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt

Best Research Year 9-11 Award, sponsored by DairyNZ ($3,000 cash)
Winner: Nika Thomson (15), Sacred Girls College, Lower Hutt

MARLBOROUGH REGION
Travel Award to the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition, sponsored by Asia New Zealand Foundation
Winner: Nathan Denmead (16), Waimea College, Nelson

CANTERBURY REGION
Travel Award to the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition, sponsored by Asia New Zealand Foundation
Victor Kang (17), Burnside High School, Christchurch

Research Design Award, sponsored by AgResearch ($2,000 cash)
Victor Kang (17), Burnside High School, Christchurch

OTAGO REGION
Travel Award to the Taiwan International Science Fair, sponsored by the Royal Society of New Zealand
Winner: Ben Mulholland (16), Taieri College, Dunedin

SOUTHLAND REGION
Best research year 7/8 Award, sponsored by DairyNZ
Winner: Maggie Fellowes (13), Limehills School, Southland