If there is one thing you have to know about Caitlin White, it is that she loves science.
This week, the Ellesmere College student joined 57 of her peers at the Otago University Science Academy, getting a taste of what tertiary science has to offer.
The academy has run since 2011 and is aimed at year 13 students, with potential to excel at science, from small, rural or formerly lower-decile schools across the country.
This was the first of two week-long camps in Dunedin, where the students attend seminars, lab sessions and elective projects covering subjects not generally taught at school.
Caitlin said she was enjoying the hands-on course and working with like-minded people,
“I feel like I’ve met people just like me.
“It was really nice using the expensive, good equipment that we do not have at rural schools.”
She hoped to study at the university next year and said the academy was a great chance to sample a wide range of science papers.
“I like health science, but I’m also fascinated by biology — I’m just trying to keep my options open.”
Academy director Steve Broni said the camp gave students a self-confidence boost — encouraging them to succeed in science.
“The ones that come back to Otago, we try and follow right through to the end.
“[There’s a] very high retention rate of our students.
“From experience, for many of them [are] the first person in their family to go to university.”
In between camps, the students will work on a science communication project — a podcast, film, public talk or museum show — to be presented in at their second camp in July.
“The earlier you can teach prospective scientists some basics about communicating science to a public audience, the better,” Mr Broni said.
“It’s not just getting [the public] to understand the science, but what it means to them or potentially could mean to them in everyday life.”
The academy also hosts 10 teachers — providing support and resources for the teaching of science at rural and underprivileged schools.
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