Recognition For Tomorrow's Leaders

New Zealand’s brightest young research scientists will be honoured at the FiRST Awards next month.

Sponsored by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, the FiRST Awards recognise the top research fellow within each of the Foundation’s three Fellowship assistance programmes, Graduates in Industry, NZ Science and Technology Post- Doctoral, and Tuapapa Putaiao Maori Fellowship schemes.

“One of the Foundation’s principal aims is to invest in the types of research which underpin New Zealand’s economic growth and improves the country’s social and environmental well being,” said Foundation Chief Executive, Dr Steve Thompson.

“Celebrating and recognising the contributions made by young researchers is pivotal to halting the science and technology exodus from New Zealand.”

“This is one of the reasons we initiated the FiRST Awards last year” he said, “we wanted to showcase the research work being done and say to young scientists this is a great career and it’s the way forward.”

The Minister for Research, Science and Technology the Honourable Pete Hodgson will present the awards at two regionalised ceremonies: the South Island event is being held in Christchurch on May 15 and the North Island event is being held in Auckland on May 17.

One of last year’s winners was carrying out research to identify new drugs to treat diabetes, while another was developing new marine toxicity testing procedures.

This year’s Awards have been enhanced by the addition of daytime workshops for up to 150 fellows. The central theme is Leadership.

Futher information: Beverly Martens Ph (04) 473 1229 or 025 444 788 More information about the Awards (and previous winners) can be found on the Foundation’s website: http://www.frst.govt.nz/public/fellowships/firstawards/htm

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