| News Release Award for Excellence in Engineering Journalism 2006 This year the Award for Excellence in Engineering Journalism rewards a New Zealand journalist whose fair, positive and accurate reporting has improved the public’s understanding of the interdependence of science and engineering. Hannah Sperber’s article is an outstanding piece of investigative journalism which bears reading by all New Zealanders. Nanotechnology is seen by many as ‘The Next Big Thing’ and Hannah’s article explores its nature and possible benefits and dangers. Nanotechnology lies at the nexus where physics, chemistry, biology and engineering converge. The lines between them become very blurred in the nanotechnology area. Hannah’s article is informative and balanced, and dispels some myths in this area. The dangers of the technology are not overlooked, and some investigative action is urged upon government. This is an exciting and risky new engineering frontier. The public are only patchily informed on nanotechnology and Hannah’s article is a superb contribution to the improvement of public knowledge. Sponsored by the IPENZ Foundation
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