A teenager from Bluff, whose research into water contamination prompted Southland Regional Council to change its advice to shellfish gatherers, has won a Prime Minister's science prize and a share of the $1 million award.
Year 13 student Bailey Lovett, 17, from James Hargest College in Invercargill, has been awarded the Future Scientist prize, winning a scholarship worth $50,000.
She researched water in the Riverton area after severe storms and noted the levels of contamination lasted longer than previously thought.
This prompted the council to advise the public to wait five days, instead of two, to harvest shellfish.
The top science prize has been awarded to a team of Victoria University researchers for magnetic resonance discoveries which are now used throughout the world.
