NIWA Media Release Winners of Wellington Science Fair Announced
Winners announced! The 2011 NIWA Wellington Regional Science and Technology Fair has again been a resounding success,
with nearly 600 intermediate and secondary school students taking part.
NIWA’s Education Coordinator Dr Julie Hall says that “the winning ideas, 'The effect of Ponni Rice on blood glucose
levels', 'Treatment of Farm Effluent Using Osmosis', 'What do Kiwi Kids Eat for Lunch?', and 'A Hole Lot of ****!', are
really very clever ideas and it's exciting to see such a high standard this year.”
The National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Fair is open for public viewing Friday 26 August and Saturday 27 August at Victoria
University of Wellington. The Prizes will be awarded, Saturday 27 August, starting at 1pm.
The Chief Science Fair Judge Dr Gillian Turner says, “It shows that science and technology are alive and thriving in the
secondary and intermediate schools of Wellington and the Hutt Valley. The 450 exhibits which packed the undergraduate
laboratories of the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at Victoria University evidenced the enormous level of
enthusiasm and innovation of the next generation of scientists and the dedication of their teachers, parents and
caregivers in supporting them.
“Each project was individually conceived, designed and carried out and almost all explored applications way beyond the
traditional school curriculum showing, for example concern for the environment, for sustainability and health issues. If
yesterday’s fair is any indication, we will be in excellent hands when this generation of students moves through
tertiary education and into the work force.”
NIWA prize-winners:
Cheyaanthan Haran, a Year 13 student from Wellington College, won the $1000 Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington
Branch prize for best overall exhibit with his project: “The effect of Ponni Rice on blood glucose levels”. Cheyaanthan
conducted an experiment to determine whether Ponni Rice lowers blood glucose levels, which would be useful for people
living with diabetes. Cheyaanthan also won the Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Science Innovation Prize, a
nomination for Genesis Energy Realise the Dream, and was also judged first in Class 5.
Lachlan Sim, a Year 8 student from Wellesley College, won the Victoria University Faculty of Science prize of an iPad
for the best Class 1-4 (Years 7 - 10) exhibit. Lachlan’s project “Treatment of Farm Effluent Using Osmosis” investigated
how to reduce run-off and local pollution when applying effluent to farm land. Lachlan was also judged first in Class 2.
Other age class winners:
Jessie Cartmell from Seatoun School with “What do Kiwi Kids Eat for Lunch?”, and Imogen Graham and Emma Munro from
Kelburn Normal School with “A Hole Lot of ****!” were judged first equal in Class 1 (Year 7): .
Class 3 (Year 9):
Adrina Venayagam from Tawa College for “Breath of Life”. Adrina also won a nomination for Genesis Energy Realise the
Dream.
Class 4 (Year 10):
Georgia Hulme-Moir from Bishop Viard College for “Pests of Whiteria Park”. Georgia also won a nomination for Genesis
Energy Realise the Dream.
Other winners:
Charlotte Hann, a Year 11 student from Wellington East Girl’s College, won the University of Otago Prize of a trip to
2012 Hands on Science summer school. Her exhibit was “Coprosma Leaf Adaptations”.
Details of the main prizewinners:
Details of the main prizewinners, and the first prizewinner in each class are posted at: www.sciencefair.org.nz.
Public viewing:
Laby Building, Kelburn Parade, Victoria University of Wellington
9am – 5pm, Friday 27 August
9am – 12.30pm, Saturday 28 August
Prizegiving:
1pm, Saturday 28 August, Maclaurin Lecture Theatre 3, Kelburn Parade, Victoria University of Wellington.
ENDS