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NIWA Media Release 17 August 2012
Waikato’s got talent: Science Fair 2012

The next leading New Zealand scientist may well be from Waikato.

The NIWA Waikato Science and Technology Fair will be showcasing our young Kiwi scientific talent next week from 23 - 25 August.

NIWA’s education coordinator Dr Julie Hall says, “We want to see these young people really excel, and go on to help drive New Zealand’s economy. The future achievements of our young scientists and technologists will lead the way to growing New Zealand’s prosperity.”

So far there are more entries this year than last, and “the ideas are engaging,” says Dr Hall.

More than 300 projects from students in Years 7 – 13 have been entered, from 35 schools throughout the Waikato region.

The entries include a remote-controlled car vacuum cleaner, a torch that runs on lemon power, an environmental project about the effects of oil spills on our streams, and interesting ways to train animals - “doggy trick or treat”. There is an automatic fish feeding invention and a biosecurity project on invasive snails in our lakes.

This Thursday, 23 August, a team of judges, made up of professional scientists, industry leaders and educators, will interview the students and select the best projects in each of the three age classes. The prize winners will be announced on 24 August at the official prize giving ceremony, to be held at the University of Waikato, PricewaterhouseCoopers Lecture Theatre, Management Building, off Hillcrest Road, at 7.00pm.

Dr Hall says, “Science and Technology Fairs provide a great chance for students to actively participate in science projects. Their enthusiasm is clear to see, and the fairs are a great way to get school students to make scientific research part of finding solutions to problems. They learn that science experiments must be researched, designed and analysed. These are very valuable life skills to learn.”

The students are competing for over $6,000 in prizes, with a number of special prizes also donated by a range of businesses and science organisations.

Top prizes include $500 for Best in Fair, and $300 for Best in Fair Runner-Up. These are accompanied by gold medallions. There are also $200 prizes for Best Material World Exhibit, Best Physical World Exhibit, Best Our Planet Our World Our Resources Exhibit, Best Inventions and Technical Innovations Exhibit, Best Senior Biological Services and Best Environment Exhibit.

One of the most highly anticipated supreme awards is the NIWA Work Experience Scholarship which offers a senior student paid work experience at NIWA in Hamilton.

NIWA is a crown-owned research and consultancy company, with a global reputation as experts in water and atmospheric research. NIWA provides major sponsorship for many of the Science and Technology Fairs throughout New Zealand.

Important information about this event:
Public viewing: FREE Entry
24 August 9am - 10pm
25 August 9am - 2pm
Venue: Hamilton Gardens Pavilion, Cobham Drive, Hamilton East
All projects will be collected /removed by 2.30pm Saturday 25th August.

For comment, contact:

Dr Julie Hall
Education Coordinator, NIWA
Tel: 04 386 0322
Mob: 021 952 369

For logistics, contact:
Tracey Edwards
Waikato Coordinator, NIWA
Tel: 07 859 1852
Mob: 027 200 9953

Jayne Cooper-Woodhouse
Media Advisor, NIWA
Tel: 04 382 1621
Mob: 027 705 8577

Rosalie McGowan
Committee Chairperson
Waikato Science Fair Organising Committee
Mob: 027 274 1236