Developing your idea

Your idea, whether it arrived like a lightning bolt in the small hours of a sleepless night or was the product of careful consideration, will need refining and development. If you have an idea to promote Science & Technology in New Zealand that you are keen to develop, first:

• do some research
• check if your idea has been done before, is in development, or has overlap with a similar project
• check any intellectual property (IP) issues.

Hatching Your Plan

Getting an idea out of your head and into the world takes some planning. Our Bright Ideas Checklist helps with this process by setting out the basic steps for turning an initial idea into a fully fledged project. Download it and keep a copy handy to guide you through your development work ahead. If all the steps needed to successfully develop your idea into a reality seem daunting, rest assured that there are many people and groups who can help you make it happen. Take a look at this list to see the sorts of people and institutions you could approach for assistance.

Checking Out Your Idea

It's a good idea to check whether or not your idea has been staged before or is currently in development, as well as reviewing previous ideas that have worked well in New Zealand. Learning from others could save you a lot of time, money and energy in preparing your project, and you could make some valuable contacts. Here are some places you can find out about other people's bright ideas:

• The Royal Society of New Zealand website This site describes a wide range of ideas for Science & Technology promotion originating in New Zealand since 1998. These ideas have been presented to the Science & Technology Promotion Fund for funding consideration. Successful ideas and the level of investment they attracted are described.

• The Internet Use a search engine such as Google. Your search may reveal related projects and give you further inspiration. Guidance or networks may be accessed through science or event dedicated chat rooms.