Wellington science fair winners announced
A Wellington High School student has taken out the prize for best overall exhibit at this year’s NIWA Wellington
Regional Science and Technology Fair.
Callum Davidson, a Year 10 student, won the $1000 Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington Branch prize with his project
entitled Falling Sand.
Therese Featherston, a Year 13 student from Queen Margaret College, won the Victoria University Innovation Prize of
$4000 towards the fees in the first year of an undergraduate degree in science or engineering. Therese’s exhibit was
called The Matter of GATA?
Sarah Scott, a Year 7 student from St Benedict's School, won the Victoria University Faculty of Science prize of an iPad
for the best Class 1-4 (Years 7 - 10) exhibit. Sarah’s project Who has the most bacteria in their mouth? Police officers
or police dogs? was also judged first equal in Class 1.
The fair, sponsored by the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), is open to the publictomorrow from 9.30am-12.30pm at the Laby Building, Victoria
University.
Prizes will be awarded tomorrow, starting at 1pm.
Chief Judge Bradley Douglass, from Victoria University’s School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, said he was impressed
by the standard of this year’s entries.
“It was so impressive to see the works our younger generation have produced for this year's Science Fair. We've seen
just the start of what these students will go on to achieve, and it shows their tremendous ability to turn a blank slate
into a project they can be proud of, with support and resources from mentors around them.”
There were 430 exhibits at this year’s fair.
Other winners:
Louis Thomas, from Northland School, and Carlos Mendonca, from Raroa Intermediate, were judged first equal in Class 2
(Year 8). Louis’ project was: How now green cow - which cows’ feed lessens methane and carbon dioxide emissions? and
Carlos’ project was Smoke in the Water.
Margarita Montes de Oca, Susie Lee and Winnie Ng, from Wellington Girls' College, with Underwater Wall.E were judged
first in Class 3 (Year 9).
Jack Tregidga, a Year 11 student from Wellington High School, won the University of Otago Prize of a trip to 2015 Hands
on Science summer school. His exhibit was Astroblaster.
Details of the main prizewinners, and the first prizewinner in each class are posted at:www.sciencefair.org.nz.
ends