Department of Engineering Science
New Zealand's Next Top Engineering Scientist competition
A problem solving competition for teams of three or four Year 12 or 13 students, who have interests in mathematics and science.
The competition
This annual competition is a problem solving team event for secondary students, organised by the Department of Engineering Science at The University of Auckland, and sponsored by Fonterra and Orion Health. This fun and challenging competition is for teams of three or four Year 12 or 13 students, who have interests in mathematics and science. 2012 will be the fourth year in which the competition has been run.
This year's competition poster (1.86MB)
2012 question
At 9am, on Saturday 22 September (competition day) the 2012 question was published. All the information, including the question is available on our Competition Day page.
Prizes
First prize is $6,000 plus there are two runner-up prizes of $2,000. In addition to the prize money, all members of the top three teams who later choose to study in the Department of Engineering Science will be guaranteed a paid summer internship at Orion Health, Fonterra or the Department of Engineering Science.
Timing for this year
The competition for 2012 has now closed.
Last year
117 teams took part with entries from 65 schools all over New Zealand. The title and the Pullan Prize for first place went to Benedict Morrissey, Matthew Ruffell and Michael Shanaher from Garin College. Links to results from previous years including 2011 are to the right, and include some of the prize-winning entries.
Questions from previous years
"If a severe Tsunami warning was issued, how long would it take to evacuate the 13,000 people who live on Te Atatu Peninsula?" (2011)
"How much fuel is required for a manned mission to Mars?" (2010)
"Could New Zealanders save enough electricity via energy efficiency improvements in homes to avoid New Zealand requiring an additional power station being constructed?" (2009)
