Prime Minister’s $1 million science prizes presented

Media Release: Tuesday 2 December 2014
Prime Minister’s $1 million science prizes presented

The 2014 Prime Minister’s Science Prizes, which provide a total of $1 million across five categories, have been presented in Wellington today.

The prizes recognise the impact of science on New Zealanders’ lives, celebrate the achievements of current scientists and encourage those of the future.

The top prize of $500,000 has been awarded to the He Kainga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme, led by Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman from the University of Otago, who is the first woman and the first social scientist to receive the prestigious award.

Professor Howden-Chapman’s team has worked nationwide for 15 years to address long-standing quality deficiencies in housing, particularly as they affect vulnerable groups such as children, older people and those with chronic health conditions including asthma.

Through large scale community trials, involving around 10,000 New Zealanders, the team has tested, quantified and demonstrated the effectiveness of initiatives such as retrofitting insulation to modern standards, installing effective and non-polluting heating and remediating injury hazards in homes.

The team’s work has earned international acclaim and informed policy developments for successive New Zealand governments.

Other prize winners are:

The Prime Minister’s 2013 MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize of $200,000 goes to Dr Karl Iremonger, a researcher and lecturer at the University of Otago, who has discovered a new brain cell structure and communication system, setting the stage for more targeted therapies for neurological diseases. Dr Iremonger has used cutting-edge technology to help identify brain cells that function differently to what has been previously accepted. His discovery could ultimately lead to improved contraception and infertility treatments.

The Prime Minister’s 2013 Science Teacher Prize has been won by Terry Burrell, who is the Learning Area Leader for Science at Onslow College. She has been awarded the prize for what colleagues and the judges describe as an infectious love of learning which excites and stimulates both students and other teachers to perform at their best. During Terry’s time at Onslow, the number of students studying science at NCEA level two has increased 31 percent while the numbers staying in science through to level three are up 32 percent. Terry receives $50,000 and Onslow College receives $100,000.

The Prime Minister’s 2013 Future Scientist Prize has been won by 17 year old, Tim Logan from Darfield High School in Canterbury, for his scientific investigations into the protection and survival of some of New Zealand’s endangered indigenous plants. Tim’s two year study of native plants, many of them at risk of extinction, across Canterbury’s drought-prone Waimakariri Plains, shows that stock grazing can work in conjunction with ecological conservation. His study is the first of its type in lowland Canterbury.Tim receives a scholarship of $50,000 to help pay for tertiary studies.

The Prime Minister’s 2013 Science Media Communication Prize has been presented to Doctor Michelle Dickinson, a biomedical and materials engineer who runs Australasia’s only nanomechanical testing laboratory at the University of Auckland. The prize, valued at $100,000, recognises Michelle’s work to make the serious subject of science fun and accessible, which she does through regular radio and television appearances, tweets, blogs and her ‘Nanogirl’ cartoon persona.

The 2014 Prime Minister’s Science Prizes were presented to winners on Tuesday 2 December at the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.

To find out more about the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes visit:
www.pmscienceprizes.org.nz

About the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes:
The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes combine recognition and reward, with total prize money of $1 million. Presented annually, they are New Zealand’s most valuable science awards and were introduced to raise the profile and prestige of science. The prizes celebrate scientific achievement, highlight the impact science has on New Zealanders’ lives and aim to attract more young people into science careers. The Prime Minister awards five prizes with the top award, valued at $500,000, recognising a transformational science discovery or achievement which has had a significant impact on New Zealand or internationally.
The prizes are:
• The Prime Minister’s Science Prize: $500,000
• The Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize: $200,000
• The Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize: $150,000
• The Prime Minister’s Future Scientist Prize: $50,000
• The Prime Minister’s Science Media Communication Prize: $100,000

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