15 December 2004
Fisher and Paykel Appliances support for top young scientists
The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology says it's delighted that Fisher and Paykel Appliances have agreed to
renew their naming rights sponsorship of the MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards for 2005.
Chief Executive of the Foundation, Murray Bain says it is very pleasing to have Fisher and Paykel Appliances, a company
which is a major user of research and development, supporting the awards. The MacDiarmid Awards are designed to
recognise New Zealand's top young scientists and researchers and to encourage other young people to make a career in
science. Mr Bain says the staging of these awards is part of its strategy to gain greater public recognition of the
importance of science to society.
Mr Bain says New Zealand needs all the highly-qualified young people possible if the country is achieve future growth
targets while at the same time retaining our unique environment and way of life. Mr Bain says companies such as Fisher
and Paykel Appliances look for a steady flow of young graduates to maintain their competitive advantage and recognise
that one of the ways achieving of this is to encourage and support these people at a critical stage in their career.
The Managing Director and CEO of Fisher and Paykel Appliances, John Bongard says, "As a company that has encouraged
young talent to innovate and challenge the boundaries, we can clearly see the benefits of science and technology. We
firmly believe that to maintain the company's position as a leading New Zealand manufacturer we need to continually
challenge every thing we do, to create new platforms and to improve existing ones. By supporting the MacDiarmid Awards
we are encouraging young professional scientists to do the same."
The MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards organised by the Foundation, are open to all post graduates who are
New Zealand citizens or who have permanent residency. Entrants are required to submit a poster summarising their work
and these are judged by an independent panel of experts. The winner receives a study tour to the United Sates, the
runner up a trip to Australia and the various category winners and runners-up each receive cash prizes. The winner also
receives the MacDiarmid Medal.
The awards are named after Nobel Prize winner Professor Alan MacDiarmid who presented the inaugural awards in 2004. Next
year's awards will be presented in Auckland on 22 June 2005.
For more details on the awards visit www.frst.govt.nz
ENDS