Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Young Science Leaders Forum promises new insights

Farmers and politicians and scientists alike will all have the chance to watch and hear some of New Zealand's brightest young people grapple with the issues confronting agriculture on Friday 7 September when the first Governor-General's Eureka! Young Science Leaders Forum is held at Government House.

The key stages of the Forum will be live-streamed on the Eureka! website https//www.eureka.org.nz/live from 9.00 a.m. until about 1.30 p.m.

The Forum will bring together business, science, government and agriculture leaders and decision makers with secondary school students, undergraduates and Eureka! Alumni who came to Wellington for the annual Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Awards.

They will consider the known and unknown environmental, social and economic challenges facing New Zealand agriculture over the next two to three decades and the ways in which science and technology can help our country navigate its way through.

"This is an exciting new innovation in our programme, " says Eureka! Trust Chairman, Dr Russ Ballard.

"It's exciting for these young people to be exposed to (and be part of) a discussion about issues, policies and solutions which really matter for New Zealand.  We hope it's a forerunner of a host of exciting and important Governor-General's Eureka! Young Science Leaders Forum in the future.  The young people who will be involved ill have to grapple with the issues during their lifetime. Hopefully, this discussion will prepare them for the challenges they will face."