Five ingenious scientists start their epic journey on the other side of the world to hunt for gold. Kate Humble joins the team of modern-day prospectors as they follow in the footsteps of the original gold pioneers on the rugged and unforgiving west coast of New Zealand's South Island.

To find gold, they have to solve a series of seemingly impossible challenges with only basic tools, simple materials and a few helpful household items, like a bag of sugar and some old radios. The scientists' brainpower, and muscle power, are tested to the limit as they battle with dense forests and fast-flowing rivers in one of the wettest places on Earth, with nearly 200 inches of rain a year. The team's ultimate challenge is to make a souvenir from pure New Zealand gold.

"Rough Science" is the thinking person's reality show. The series takes a group of highly skilled scientists, drops them in a remote location and presents them with a series of challenges, all designed to test the practical side of their disciplines. In the engaging second season of the series, the tasks confronting the scientists revolve around a quest for gold in New Zealand and mastering space in the Arizona desert.

Note: This is part 1 of a series of 6 parts.