Stem Cell Essay Winners Awarded

Stem Cell Essay Winners Awarded

NZBio congratulates all entrants in the 2007 NZBio Secondary School Student’s Essay Competition.

This year’s essay topic, Stem Cells: Panacea or problem? Explain the science and explore the issues, inspired students from all over New Zealand.

Over 50 essays were received from students from the deep south of Fiordland and Southland to the Bay of Islands. Twelve essays were shortlisted from students who both answered the question and wrote a lively discussion about the issue.

The judges say what was particularly impressive of these top students was their level of research and the way they were able to present their ideas in an informative and readable style.

Sarah Ng of Riccarton High School was awarded first prize and will receive $500. The judges comment that Sarah’s essay showed an impressive ability to identify and explain a range of viewpoints as well as provide an example of a ‘panacea’.

Second prize and $300 goes to Alicia Harrison of Southland Girls High School. Alicia’s essay identifies the controversy and introduces the reader to a wide range of impacts of stem cell applications.

Hung-Ling Pu of Macleans College in Auckland was awarded third place, and will receive $150 in prize money. Hung-Ling’s essay was lively and interesting and demonstrated a depth of research.

“The standard of entries was again very high we were very pleased this year to see such in-depth knowledge about this emerging field of science from secondary school students,” NZBio’s CEO Brian Ward says.

“NZBio congratulates all students who entered and we look forward to receiving a similar standard of essays in next year’s competition.”

Prize money for this year’s essay competition was generously donated by the Ministry of Research Science & Technology – inspiring young New Zealanders through science. The winning entry is posted on NZBio’s web site.

http://www.nzbio.org.nz/

ends

© Scoop Media