Wellington
So, how much will the rest of New Zealand care about last night's announcement of the PrimeMinister's Science Prizes?
John Key and Wayne Mapp are going their manful best to promote research, and its close kissingcousin, innovation, as one of the main ways (the only way?) that New Zealand can lift our economicperformance.
The recognition of science participants, none of them remotely like the mad-scientist depicted inmovies, is a small part in that promotion.
It will be interesting to see how much interest and attention is given to the winners of thePrime Minister's Science Prizes announced this morning in Auckland. You'd like to think someone'stracking some numbers on the media attention......no doubt if they're upwards, we'll hear aboutit.
For the record the full list of 2010 winners is:
The P.M's Science Prize
Victoria University's magnetic resonance researchteam and Magritek (its commercialised outcome, see sticK story
Future Scientist Prize
Bailey Lovett, 17, or James Hargest College,Invercargill. $50,000 towards her university studies
Science Teacher Prize
Steve Martin, Howick College, Auckland. Steve receives $50,000 andHowick College $100,000
MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist
Dr Donna Rose Addis, University of Auckland.Donna receives $200,000, with $150,000 to be used for research
Science Media Communications
Dr Cornel de Ronde, GNS Science. Cornelreceives $100,000, $50,000 of which will be used to develop his science communication skills