14 Apr 2021

Teen wins science prize for quantum computing research

From Nine To Noon, 9:39 am on 14 April 2021
James Zingel, awarded PM's Future Science Prize winner, 2021.

James Zingel, awarded PM's Future Science Prize winner, 2021. Photo: supplied

19 year old James Zingel has won the Prime Minister's future science prize for his research into whether quantum computing could improve breast cancer diagnosis.

His research project, started while still at Bethlehem College in Tauranga, used a breast cancer dataset to compare a classic computer and a quantum computer to see which is better at analysing the data and determining the type of breast cancer present. 

His research found the classical method is better than the quantum one, but James believes that will change soon.