The Prime Minister's chief science advisor says a new programme funding young people to do projects is to teach the value of science to society.
Sir Peter Gluckman today launched a pilot scheme, the Otago Participatory Science Platform, with similar programmes in the pipeline for South Auckland and Taranaki.
In each region, the Government is putting up $100,000 to fund at least five projects dreamt up and run by community groups, families or schools.
Sir Peter said his dream was to see more children and their families realise that science was not abstract, but something that added value to New Zealanders' lives, environment and economy.
He said if the programmes took off, he would seek funding to roll them out around New Zealand.