Logan Park High School pupil Meran Campbell-Hood (15) has been selected for Genesis Energy's Realise the Dream after developing a method to test for soil nutrients, such as copper and selenium, using red-green-blue characteristics of plants, as captured in digital photographs.
Her ingenious science project was one of 20 by New Zealand's most talented science pupils which have been selected by the Royal Society of New Zealand for the event, which rewards and celebrates secondary school pupils who have undertaken an excellent piece of scientific research or engineering project.
Meran was delighted with her selection, even though it was the second time she had been selected.
''I'm excited.
''I was in the 2011 Realise the Dream for an earlier version of my programme.
''Being selected again doesn't make it any less exciting,'' she said.
Other projects selected included topics of air and water quality, nutrition, memory, sand dune restoration, hypothermia monitors, spider web strength and an automatic gearbox for bicycles.
Chief judge Associate Prof Cory Matthew, of Massey University, said this year's competition drew some outstanding entries.
''It bodes well for New Zealand's future that such quality science projects are being created in schools and with such diverse topics.
''The projects showed high skill levels in electronics, image analysis, robotics, ecology and physics, among others.''
Genesis Energy's Realise the Dream will begin in Auckland on December 8, where Meran and the other pupils selected will be hosted by scientific organisations such as the Liggins Institute and Fisher and Paykel Healthcare.
They will also visit Genesis Energy's Huntly power station for a day, spend time with DairyNZ, AgResearch and Niwa.
The purpose of the visits is to inspire and introduce the participants to the many different science and engineering careers that are possible, and to experience first-hand cutting edge science in New Zealand.
Meran said the week would conclude with an award ceremony hosted by Governor-General Sir Jerry Mataparae at Government House where awards would be announced, including the Genesis Energy Supreme Award of $7000 cash plus and all-expenses-paid trip to the European Union Young Scientist Competition, in Poland, in September 2014.
