Support for top young scientists

15 December 2004

Fisher and Paykel Appliances support for top young scientists

The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology says it's delighted that Fisher and Paykel Appliances have agreed to renew their naming rights sponsorship of the MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards for 2005.

Chief Executive of the Foundation, Murray Bain says it is very pleasing to have Fisher and Paykel Appliances, a company which is a major user of research and development, supporting the awards. The MacDiarmid Awards are designed to recognise New Zealand's top young scientists and researchers and to encourage other young people to make a career in science. Mr Bain says the staging of these awards is part of its strategy to gain greater public recognition of the importance of science to society.

Mr Bain says New Zealand needs all the highly-qualified young people possible if the country is achieve future growth targets while at the same time retaining our unique environment and way of life. Mr Bain says companies such as Fisher and Paykel Appliances look for a steady flow of young graduates to maintain their competitive advantage and recognise that one of the ways achieving of this is to encourage and support these people at a critical stage in their career.

The Managing Director and CEO of Fisher and Paykel Appliances, John Bongard says, "As a company that has encouraged young talent to innovate and challenge the boundaries, we can clearly see the benefits of science and technology. We firmly believe that to maintain the company's position as a leading New Zealand manufacturer we need to continually challenge every thing we do, to create new platforms and to improve existing ones. By supporting the MacDiarmid Awards we are encouraging young professional scientists to do the same."

The MacDiarmid Young Scientists of the Year Awards organised by the Foundation, are open to all post graduates who are New Zealand citizens or who have permanent residency. Entrants are required to submit a poster summarising their work and these are judged by an independent panel of experts. The winner receives a study tour to the United Sates, the runner up a trip to Australia and the various category winners and runners-up each receive cash prizes. The winner also receives the MacDiarmid Medal.

The awards are named after Nobel Prize winner Professor Alan MacDiarmid who presented the inaugural awards in 2004. Next year's awards will be presented in Auckland on 22 June 2005.

For more details on the awards visit www.frst.govt.nz

ENDS

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