The competition challenged secondary school and tertiary undergraduates to deliver a 12-minute presentation about how an application of science or technology will benefit New Zealand’s economic, environmental and social wealth and well-being.
Lila's presentation was entitled Revolutionary Rye grass and suggested that New Zealand agriculture may be able to adapt to the impacts of climate change through the development of a new strain of genetically enhanced HME rye grass.
The year 13 student was one of two girls who made the finals of the competition and beat 11 other contestants to win them.
Lila received $10,000 for winning and was presented with a trophy by the governor-general of New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy.
She said taking out the competition was a big surprise considering she was up against tertiary students.
"I was seriously so shocked and surprised, I really did not expect anything like that. You got to watch all the other presentations and they were all amazing, on such a variety of topics, by such passionate people who've been studying their things for sometimes quite a long time.
"When they announced it, I didn't move. I was really, really shocked."
She said she wants to see more girls and people in general realise how great science can be.
"I think it's really crucial for everybody to be involved in science, all different types of people from all different backgrounds, like all genders, everything like that because its the collaboration of all of the concepts, all of the ideas and backgrounds that need to come together and all work together to present viable solutions for our future."
Lila said she was still weighing up what she wanted to do when she left school but winning the competition would help her whatever she decided to do.
"I'm looking into environmental science with biology and then as a conjugate with law but I'm not sure where.
"I'm also looking into a gap year, I think it's important to factor in burn out and the workload at university."
