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The MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards
About the Awards
The MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards are presented annually by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology to celebrate the achievements of the country’s top emerging researchers and scientists and raise the profile of science nationally.
The MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards, in association with principal sponsor Fisher & Paykel Appliances, have been held annually since 2004 when the late Alan MacDiarmid, New Zealand’s third Nobel laureate and our most prominent international scientist, agreed to a request from the Foundation to lend his name to the awards. But the Foundation’s commitment to recognising and celebrating the work of New Zealand’s top achieving young scientists and researchers goes back further – to 1999 when it held the inaugural FIRST Awards.
The MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards are presented at a prestigious gala dinner held in Auckland each year. Over 400 of the key people in New Zealand’s science and business sectors come together to celebrate the work of our top scientists and scholars.
The winning young scientists have demonstrated ability to communicate their science expertise to both a lay and expert audience in a verbal and visual format. This ensures the MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year are high achieving, emerging scientists who become role models to New Zealand's next generation of budding scientists.
Being a MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year Award winner opens doors.
The publicity the winners receive often leads to increased commercial interest and research or job opportunities, and the prizes allow them to attend conferences to increase their scientific knowledge and communication skills.
The MacDiarmid Institute for Advancing Materials and NanoTechnology is proud to sponsor these prestigious awards and to be actively involved in encouraging the development of a sector that will greatly benefit New Zealand’s future.
Previous MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year:
- 2007: Jessie Jacobsen, Auckland, for research that could contribute to a cure for the fatal brain disorder Huntington’s disease
- 2006: Claire French, Auckland, for new cell identification technology that could help solve sex crimes;
- 2005: Jessica North, Otago, for her research into environmental contamination from leaky landfills using environmental forensics in the form of isotope fingerprinting;
- 2004: Andrew Rudge, Canterbury, for developing techniques to deliver exact amounts of sedative drugs for critically ill patients, potentially saving millions of dollars in drug costs.
About the Foundation
The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology invests over $460 million a year on behalf of the New Zealand Government, in research, science and technology. These investments are made to enhance the wealth and well being of New Zealanders.
