Prime Minister's Science Prizes


The Prime Minister's Science Prizes are awarded yearly by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. They were first awarded in 2009 in order to raise the profile and prestige of science among New Zealanders. The 2019 awards were presented in early 2020.

Awards

The Prime Minister's Science Prize

Awarded to an individual or a team, the prize recognises a scientific discovery or achievement that has a significant economic, health, social or environmental impact on New Zealand or internationally in the past five years. The total prize is NZD 500,000.

Prizewinners

The prize is awarded to an outstanding emerging scientist who has had their PhD conferred within the last eight years. Prior to 2015 the qualifying period was within five years of conferment. The recipient receives NZD 200,000. This award was preceded by Young Scientist of the Year sponsored by the MacDiarmid Institute.

Prizewinners

Awarded to a teacher who is teaching science to school-age children, the prize is NZD 150,000.

Prizewinners

Awarded to a Year 12 or Year 13 student who has undertaken a science, mathematics, technological or engineering project, the prize is worth NZD 50,000.

Prizewinners

The Prize is awarded to either a practising science with an interest, passion and aptitude for science communication, or to a person with expertise in communicating complex scientific or technological information to the public. The prize was worth NZD 100,000. In 2021 the prize was worth $75,000.

Prizewinners