Science competition heats up in New Zealand

On an August morning at about 6 a.m., the cars begin to pull up to the Christchurch Convention Centre in New Zealand. Kiwanians from Division 11, in the New Zealand-South Pacific District, unload box after box of registration information, stationery, signs, and stuff—lots of stuff. After all, it takes lots of stuff to stage the Canterbury-Westland Science and Technology Fair, and these devoted Kiwanians have preparations for this annual event down to, well, a science.

Students show off their exhibits during the Canterbury-Westland Science and Technology Fair, staged annually by the Kiwanis clubs of Christchurch, North West Christchurch, and Waimairi, Christchurch.

The fair, now more than 30 years running, encourages children’s excitement for science and technology. And it has proved popular: Upwards of 1,000 students, ages 10 to 17, take part in mini science fairs at schools, with the top competitors—about 500 students—moving on to the Canterbury-Westland Science and Technology Fair. And the prizes are well worth the hard work and dedication the students put into their work. Money, books, trophies, and work experience await the winners—but it’s the grand prize that attracts most competitors.

“The grand prize for the fair is a three-year fees-paid scholarship for the winner to study science or technology at either Lincoln University or Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology,” says organizing committee chairman Gordon McNabb of the Kiwanis Club of Christchurch. “We estimate this scholarship to be worth approximately NZ$12,000.”

The goal in all of this, says Gordon, not only is to promote interests in science and technology, but also in science- and technology-related careers. And the efforts seem to be paying off. Past fair winners include Anna Pilbrow, who has completed a degree in biochemistry and now is working on her PhD at Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Services, and her brother, Edward, who is in his final year of his PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of Canterbury.

“Through Kiwanis involvement in this event, we have raised the image of Kiwanis considerably, not only in the wider community, but especially in education circles,” Gordon says. “Furthermore, it is a great opportunity for the Kiwanis clubs of Christchurch to work together.