Twelve students to vie for Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Premier Award

This year’s Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Awards National Finals Symposium begins on Thursday 7 September, with a series of special events for members of the Eureka! alumni group, organised by the Eureka Alumni Trust. On Thursday evening representatives of the event sponsors will mingle with finalists, and take in a bit of inspiration from speakers Manu Lange, a graduate research student from Rex Bionics, and Peter Boshier, New Zealand’s Ombudsman.

The 12 finalists will on Friday present their ideas to a judging panel that includes prominent radio journalist Kim Hill and an audience of the public.

The Eureka weekend culminates in an awards ceremony at Government House, hosted by Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy.

Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Awards national convenor Francis Wevers says that he’s excited at the range of fascinating topics and ideas that this year’s finalists will be speaking about.

There are three key aspects to a successful Eureka presentation, says Francis. Students must explain their STEM idea, then relate it to a problem faced by New Zealanders, and finally elaborate on how the idea solves the problem, and in doing so increases New Zealand’s economic, environmental and social wealth and well-being.

“This year’s Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Awards National Finals Symposium promises to be the best so far,” says Mr Wevers. “We have fantastic and diverse student presenters, great diversity of subjects grounded in fabulous science, live streaming of the whole afternoon from our website, and we are back at Government House for the Governor General’s awards dinner thanks to HE the Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy accepting our invitation to continue Vice-Regal patronage.”

Find out more about the Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Awards here.

2017 Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Awards finalists