Te Puiaki Kaipūtaiao Ānamata The Prime Minister’s Future Scientist Prize
Round opens 12 August 2025.
Closes at midday on 22 October 2025.
About the Prize
Eligibility
- This prize is for a Year 12 or Year 13 student who has undertaken a science research, mathematics, technological or an engineering project and who is studying in a New Zealand registered school.
- The student must be a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand permanent resident.
- The student can apply directly for this this Prize. The student requires at least one referee and if a mentor was used then they too need to complete a referee form
Value
- This Prize is valued at $50,000 and is to be used to support the recipient’s tertiary education.
Selection:
Judging is based on the following criteria.
- Quality of literature review and objective setting process.
- The quality of the design or investigative process for the research or development.
- Execution of the developmental or investigative process.
- Soundness of the interpretation of data and results.
- The quality of conclusions reached in regard to application of the project or further work.
Portal Link
Video:
You are also asked to submit a 2-3 minute video about your research/project. This is your chance to tell the judges what might have been difficult to write in your report. The portal will prompt you to upload your video.
You may like to include:
- Why you decided to research what you did?
- If you could go back and start this research again what would you do differently?
- What have you learnt about yourself and what new skills have you learnt while carrying out this research?
- What parts of the project/research did you enjoy or didn’t enjoy?
- Have you worked with a mentor or had help?
- Talk about your method?
- Where to now with your research or what could be the next step with this research?
Please upload your video to Youtube but make it semi private so only those with the link are able to view your video.
CV: Applicants will also be prompted by the portal to upload a CV (2 pages maximum)
Confidentiality
The secretariat gives no undertaking to keep confidential any information provided in the on-line entry form unless this is identified as information that should be treated as such. Information may, for example, be used to prepare promotional material for the Prize in future years.
Please note that information submitted on the entry form may be subject to the Official Information Act.
Selection panel 2024
| Dr Angela Sharples MNZM (Chair) | Principal, Matamata College. |
| Mayada Ghanim | Epsom Girls’ Grammar School |
| Prof Jonathan Tonkin | University of Canterbury |
| Assoc Prof Peng Du | University of Auckland |
Panellists are appointed by the Pou Whakahaere Chief Executive of Royal Society Te Apārangi based on the recommendation of the panel Chairs and secretariat. Appointments are made on a year-by-year basis for each calendar year. Panellists can be appointed for more than one year. Panellists must be experienced in an appropriate field or community and may be drawn from outside New Zealand if necessary.
Panels will consist of established leaders and researchers in their field, their research and in their communities. We will also aim to bring emerging people to panels to ensure diverse views and allow for the development of people and new talent.
In considering the suitability of potential panellists, the following requirements for panel composition is considered as appropriate:
- Mix of discipline/expertise
- Sector and institutional balance
- Geographic representation
- Ethnicity
- Gender balance.
Royal Society Te Apārangi is committed to following best practice in being inclusive of diversity within our activities.
It is recognised that occasionally members of the selection panel will know applicants or have other conflicts of interest. They will be expected to declare all such knowledge and conflicts of interest. In cases where an applicant is the colleague of a panelist, the Chair of the selection panel will rule if this conflict is significant enough for the panelist to be stood down from the panel for that entry. (In the case of the Chair having a conflict of interest the decision will be made by another member of the panel who has been identified in this role at the beginning of the process).
The selection panel will not enter into any correspondence concerning its deliberations. All inquiries should be directed to the secretariat. Note that information on matters such as ranking, or names of unsuccessful entrants, will not be disclosed.
Expectations
- This Prize is to be used to support the winner with their tertiary education studies.
- The winner of this Prize may be expected to be involved in some promotional opportunities appropriate for a recipient of this Prize.
Timeline
12 August 2025 – Applications open
22 October 2025 – Applications close
November – Online judging
November/December – Selection panel meetings take place
January 2026 – All applicants notified
Announcement
- The winner is expected to make themselves available for half a day January/February 2025 to meet with the Prime Minister’s Science Prize media liaison personnel in preparation of media material and photos.
- The winner will be announced in February/March/April 2025. (date to be confirmed)
- The winner will be expected to make themselves available for that announcement in Wellington.
Closing:
Applications must be received by 1:00pm on 22 October 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.
Need help? Have other pātai questions?
Ko te Kaiwhakahaere the Secretariat for The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes is Royal Society Te Apārangi. Contact details are:
Te Kaiwhakahaere the Secretariat
The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes
Royal Society Te Apārangi
PO Box 598
Wellington
Waea telephone: (04) 470 5762
Īmēra email: pmscienceprizes@royalsociety.org.nz
Supported by the New Zealand Government with funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Nā Te Hīkina Whakatutuki te mana hāpai.
