The Prime Minister's Science Prizes are awarded yearly by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. They were first awarded in 2009 in order to raise the profile and prestige of science among New Zealanders. The 2019 awards were presented in early 2020.

Awards

The Prime Minister's Science Prize

Awarded to an individual or a team, the prize recognises a scientific discovery or achievement that has a significant economic, health, social or environmental impact on New Zealand or internationally in the past five years. The total prize is NZD 500,000.

Prizewinners

* 2021: The Neonatal Glucose Studies Team, led by

Jane Harding Dame Jane Elizabeth Harding (born 1955) is a New Zealand academic new-born intensive case specialist (neonatologist). She was awarded the Rutherford Medal in 2019. Education and career Harding studied at the University of Auckland, graduati ...

* 2020: 24 research scientists doing COVID-19 modelling at Te Pūna Matatini *2019: Antarctic sea rise research by scientists at Victoria University, Niwa and GNS Science * 2018: STRmix team of 16 software developers from Institute of Environmental Science and Research. * 2017:

Plant & Food Research Plant & Food Research (Māori: Rangahau Ahumāra Kai) is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute (CRI). Its purpose is to enhance the value and productivity of New Zealand's horticultural, arable, seafood and food & beverage industries. The inte ...

Psa PSA, PsA, Psa, or psa may refer to: Biology and medicine * Posterior spinal artery * Primary systemic amyloidosis, a disease caused by the accumulation of abnormal proteins * Prostate-specific antigen, an enzyme used as a blood tracer for pros ...

response team. * 2016: The

Dunedin Study The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (also known as the Dunedin Study) is a detailed study of human health, development and behaviour. Based at the University of Otago in New Zealand, the Dunedin Study has followed the liv ...

led by

Richie Poulton Richie Graham Poulton (born October 1962) is a New Zealand psychologist and the director of the University of Otago's Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health & Development Research Unit, which runs the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development ...

. * 2015: Bone and Joint Research Group, led by Mark Bolland, Andrew Grey and Ian Reid. * 2014: He Kainga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme led by Professor

Philippa Howden-Chapman Philippa Lynne Howden-Chapman is a professor of public health at the University of Otago, Wellington, and the director of the New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities. Education Howden-Chapman studied at the University of Auckland and was a ...

. * 2013: John Boys and Grant Covic at the

University of Auckland , mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work , established = 1883; years ago , endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021) , budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021) , chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant , vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...

. * 2012: Paul Moughan and Harjinder Singh at

Massey University Massey University ( mi, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa) is a university based in Palmerston North, New Zealand, with significant campuses in Albany and Wellington. Massey University has approximately 30,883 students, 13,796 of whom are extramural or ...

. * 2011: NIWA – Otago University Chemical and Physical Oceanography team led by Philip Boyd. * 2010: Magnetic Resonance Innovation team led by

Paul Callaghan Sir Paul Terence Callaghan ( ; 19 August 1947 – 24 March 2012) was a New Zealand physicist who, as the founding director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology at Victoria University of Wellington, held t ...

. * 2009: Bob Buckley and Jeff Tallon of

Industrial Research Ltd Industrial Research Limited (IRL) was a Crown Research Institute of New Zealand that was established in 1992 and merged into Callaghan Innovation, a new Crown entity, on 1 February 2013. IRL provided research, development and commercialisation s ...

The Prime Minister's MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize

The prize is awarded to an outstanding emerging scientist who has had their PhD conferred within the last eight years. Prior to 2015 the qualifying period was within five years of conferment. The recipient receives NZD 200,000. This award was preceded by Young Scientist of the Year sponsored by the MacDaimird Institute.

Prizewinners

* 2021:

Jemma Geoghegan Jemma Louise Geoghegan (born ) is a Scottish-born evolutionary virologist, based at the University of Otago, New Zealand, who specialises in researching emerging infectious diseases and the use of metagenomics to trace the evolution of viruses. ...

from the

University of Otago , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate u ...

* 2020: Chris Cornwall from

Victoria University of Wellington Victoria University of Wellington ( mi, Te Herenga Waka) is a university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. The university is well know ...

*2019: Miro Erkintalo from the

* 2018: Peng Du from the University of Auckland. * 2017: Carla Meledandri from the University of Otago. * 2016: Brendon Bradley at the

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury ( mi, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was ...

. * 2015: Alex Taylor at the University of Auckland. * 2014: Karl Iremonger at the University of Otago. * 2013: Benjamin O’Brien of StretchSense Ltd. * 2012: James Russell at the University of Auckland. * 2011: Rob McKay at

. * 2010: Donna Rose Addis at the University of Auckland. * 2009: John Watt at Victoria University of Wellington.

The Prime Minister's Science Teacher Prize

Awarded to a teacher who is teaching science to school-age children, the prize is NZD 150,000.

Prizewinners

* 2021: Bianca Woyak, from

Burnside Primary School Burnside may refer to: Places Antarctica * Burnside Ridges, Oates Land Australia * City of Burnside, a local government area of Adelaide, South Australia ** Burnside, South Australia, a suburb of the City of Burnside * Burnside, New South ...

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

* 2020: Sarah Washbrooke from Remarkables Primary School, Queenstown * 2019: Michelle Dalrymple from

Cashmere High School Cashmere High School ( mi, Te iringa o Kahukura) is a state coeducational secondary school, located in southern Christchurch, New Zealand. It was opened in 1956 in response to population growth in southern Christchurch during the 1950s. The sch ...

* 2017: Sarah Johns from

Nelson College for Girls , motto_translation = Loyalty, honesty and wisdom , type = State secondary, day and boarding , established = 1883; years ago , address = Trafalgar St , city = Nels ...

. * 2016: Diana Christenson from Koraunui School,

Lower Hutt Lower Hutt ( mi, Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai) is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. Administered by the Hutt City Council, it is one of the four cities that constitute the Wellington metropolitan area. It is New Zealand's sixth most p ...

. * 2015: Tania Lineham, Head of Science at James Hargest College,

Invercargill Invercargill ( , mi, Waihōpai is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of t ...

. * 2014: Terry Burrell, Learning Area Leader of Science at

Onslow College Onslow College is a state co-educational secondary school located in Johnsonville, a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. It had a student population in 2020 of 1250 students. The current principal is Sheena Millar. History Onslow College opened i ...

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

. * 2013: Fenella Colyer of

Manurewa High School , motto_translation = Rise to the Heavens , type = State co-ed secondary (year 9–13) , established = 1960 , address = 67 Browns RoadManurewaAuckland 2102New Zealand , coordinates = , principal = Pete Jones , roll = ...

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

. * 2012: Peter Stewart,

Papatoetoe High School Papatoetoe High School (PHS) is a secondary school (years 9–13) in Papatoetoe suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. History Papatoetoe High School was established in 1956. February 2021 COVID-19 outbreak On 14 February, a Year 9 student at Papat ...

, Auckland. * 2011: Angela Sharples, Rotorua Boys’ High School. * 2010: Steve Martin from

Howick College Howick College is a state co-educational secondary school located in the eastern Auckland, New Zealand suburb of Cockle Bay. Serving Years 9 to 13, the school has a roll of students as of History Howick College was established in 1974 to se ...

in Auckland. * 2009: Paul Lowe at

Morrinsville College Morrinsville College is a state secondary school located in Morrinsville, Waikato, New Zealand. The school has a roll of approximately students from years 9 to 13 (approx ages 13 to 18) as of The school dates back to 1923 when Morrinsville Sch ...

Waikato Waikato () is a Regions of New Zealand, local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipa District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton, New Zealand, Hamilton City ...

The Prime Minister's Future Scientist Prize

Awarded to a Year 12 or Year 13 student who has undertaken a science, mathematics, technological or engineering project, the prize is worth NZD 50,000.

Prizewinners

* 2021: Carol Khor Shun Ting from

Burnside High School Burnside High School ( mi, Te Kura o Waimairi-iri) is a state co-educational secondary school located in the suburb of Burnside in Christchurch, New Zealand. With a roll of students, it is the largest school in New Zealand outside Auckland, and ...

, Christchurch * 2020: James Zingel from Bethlehem College,

Tauranga Tauranga () is a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty region and the fifth most populous city of New Zealand, with an urban population of , or roughly 3% of the national population. It was settled by Māori late in the 13th century, colonised by ...

*2019: Thomas James from

* 2018: Finnegan Messerli from

, Wellington. * 2017: Jonathan Chan,

Auckland Grammar School Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...

. * 2016: Catherine Pot from

, Wellington. * 2015: Georgia Lala from Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland. * 2014: Tim Logan from Darfield High School,

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. ...

. * 2013: Thomas Morgan at Marlborough Boys’ College in Blenheim. * 2012: Hannah Ng, St Cuthbert’s College, Auckland. * 2011: Nuan-Ting Huang, Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland. * 2010: Bailey Lovett at James Hargest College, Invercargill. * 2009: Stanley Roache,

, Wellington.

The Prime Minister's Science Communication Prize

The Prize is awarded to either a practising science with an interest, passion and aptitude for science communication, or to a person with expertise in communicating complex scientific or technological information to the public. The prize was worth NZD 100,000. In 2021 the prize was worth $75,000.

Prizewinners

* 2021: Toby Morris, cartoonist,

the Spinoff ''The Spinoff'' is a New Zealand online magazine and news website that was founded in 2014. It is known for current affairs coverage, political and social analysis, and cultural commentary. It earns money through commercial sponsorship and su ...

* 2020: Michael Baker,

*2019: Rangi Matamua,

University of Waikato The University of Waikato ( mi, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato), is a Public university, public research university in Hamilton, New Zealand, Hamilton, New Zealand established in 1964. An additional campus is located in Tauranga. The university perfo ...

* 2018:

James Renwick (climate scientist) James Arthur Renwick CRSNZ is a New Zealand weather and climate researcher. He is professor of physical geography at Victoria University of Wellington, specialising in large-scale climate variations. He was awarded the 2018 New Zealand Prime Mi ...

* 2017: Damian Christie, SciFilms. * 2016:

Rebecca Priestley Rebecca Katherine Priestley is a New Zealand academic, science historian, and writer. She is Professor in Science in Society at Victoria University of Wellington. Education Priestley earned a BSc in geology at Victoria University of Wellingto ...

from Victoria University of Wellington. * 2015: Ian Griffin at the

Otago Museum Tūhura Otago Museum is located in the city centre of Dunedin, New Zealand. It is adjacent to the University of Otago campus in Dunedin North, 1,500 metres northeast of the city centre. It is one of the city's leading attractions and has one of t ...

. * 2014:

Michelle Dickinson Michelle Emma Dickinson , also known as Nanogirl, is a nanotechnologist and science educator based in New Zealand. Early life and education Dickinson grew up in Hong Kong, the USA, and the United Kingdom. She had a grandmother from Malta, a gra ...

, 'Nanogirl', at the University of Auckland. * 2013:

Siouxsie Wiles Siouxsie Wiles (born Susanna Wiles) is a British microbiologist and science communicator. Her specialist areas are infectious diseases and bioluminescence. She is based in New Zealand. She is the head of University of Auckland's Bioluminescent ...

, University of Auckland. * 2012:

Shaun Hendy Shaun Cameron Hendy is a New Zealand physicist. He is currently a professor at the University of Auckland and was the first director of Te Pūnaha Matatini, a centre of research excellence in complex systems and data analytics. During the COVI ...

, Victoria University of Wellington and Industrial Research Ltd. * 2011: Mark Quigley, University of Canterbury. * 2010: Cornel de Ronde at

GNS Science GNS Science ( mi, Te Pū Ao), officially registered as the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited, is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute. It focuses on geology, geophysics (including seismology and volcanology), and nuclear sc ...

. * 2009: Elizabeth Connor, Wellington.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website

Recipient list
New Zealand awards 2009 establishments in New Zealand Science and technology in New Zealand