Winners of the 2010 Prime Minister's science prizes will collect their awards on November 26, with the top handout of $500,000 going to a "transformative" science discovery or achievement which has had a significant impact.
Other taxpayer-funded awards to be announced at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron at Herne Bay will include the MacDiarmid "emerging scientist" prize of $200,000 for a researcher who has completed a PhD in the past five years.
An outstanding science teacher will pick up $150,000, and $50,000 will go to a secondary school student for a practical and innovative project. A media communication prize of $100,000 will be given to a practising scientist to further develop their knowledge and capability in science media.
