NZ students finalists in the worldwide Google Science Fair

News release from the Royal Society of New Zealand

13 May 2011

Two New Zealand school students are finalists in the worldwide Google Science Fair

Two students from Albany Senior High School are the only New Zealand semi- finalists in the worldwide Google Science Fair.

Students Jun Bing and Alec Wang with their Gold CREST project have been announced as semi-finalists in the worldwide competition.

Sixty projects were selected from a pool of over 7500 projects submitted from more than 10,000 students, from more than 90 countries around the world.

Jun and Alec’s project entitled ‘A working model of a device capable of filtering out carbon dioxide from car exhausts’ is a project they have been working on together for their Gold CREST award, a New Zealand science and technology scheme run by the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Through the CREST scheme primary and secondary school students are given authentic experience in technological practice or scientific investigation. They work with experts from industry to carry out projects focused on finding creative solutions to practical problems that are of real significance in their lives.

CREST co-ordinator Jessie McKenzie from the Royal Society of New Zealand says the CREST scheme helps students develop enterprise and entrepreneurial skills.

“It teaches students about setting goals, problem solving, risk-taking and having real perseverance. To complete a Gold CREST, in particular is a considerable achievement for students and one which the Royal Society of New Zealand is very pleased to recognise.

“Jun and Alec being selected as semi-finalists in this international Google competition for their CREST project is a wonderful achievement.”

The general public can now vote which project from the semi-finalists will win the People’s Choice Award.

Voting closes on 20 May and the People’s Choice winner will be announced on 23 May, along with 5 finalists in each age category.

Jun’s and Alec’s project is in the Age 17-18 category.

More information at - http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/blog.html

ENDS

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