Awards and events
MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards

Entries have closed for the most prestigious award given to New Zealand’s emerging scientists and researchers.

Hosted and organised by the Foundation? for Research, Science and Technology, together with principal sponsor, Fisher & Paykel Appliances, the awards recognise excellence in New Zealand’s young researchers, with top marks given to entries that combine brilliant, innovative research with the ability to communicate it in a way that attracts the interest of the next generation of potential scientists and researchers.

Run annually, the competition builds up to a glitzy award ceremony and gala dinner in Auckland mid-year. More than $50,000 worth of prizes is up for grabs this year.

Benefits to young researchers entering the awards

Award entrants have the chance to join a distinguished group of past winners of the MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year title, all of whom are at the cutting edge of scientific innovation in New Zealand.

Award winners are provided with wonderful opportunities to showcase their work with the media and potential employers and investors.
The overall winner receives a cash prize of $10,000 and a trip to the British Association of Science Festival in the United Kingdom, with expenses paid. The runner-up receives a trip to a relevant Australasian science conference and a cash prize of $5,000. Category winners also receive cash prizes of $5,000.

Who is eligible?

The competition is open to all post-graduates undertaking research. The upper entry limit is five years, or equivalent, from the date of the award of PhD. A special award will also be made for outstanding Masters’ level research.

To enter you must be a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident of New Zealand.

Please note: If you are currently based overseas and not able to travel to New Zealand for any of the judging or award dates then you should not enter the competition.

What entering involves

There are three stages in the MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year competition. At each stage only the best entrants will be invited to go forward to the next stage.

Key dates:

• Stage 1 - entries closed on Friday 28 March, 2008.
• All entrants notified: Monday 28 April.
• Stage 2 - communication entries closed on Friday 23 May.
• Short-listed entrants notified: Thursday 26 June.
• Stage 3 - panel judging: Tuesday 15 July.
• Awards Ceremony Thursday 14 August.

Stage one: Research, science and technology judging

Entrants submit a 750-word summary of their research and a CV listing their academic achievements, which is assessed for quality by specialist judges. Submit your entry using our online entry form.

Stage two: Communication judging

Entrants who receive a high grade for their research are invited to submit two communication entries that demonstrate their ability to communicate to a teenage audience.

Stage three: Final judging

Entrants with the highest combined scores from the first two stages are invited to present their research to a panel of top research, science and technology judges.

Interested? See more about entering the MacDiarmid Awards. You may also be interested in our funding schemes for students and scholars.