Summer holidays for Year 13 students, Depali Lamba and Margot Schmidt, took an exciting turn as they delved deep into the world of Science, Mathematics, and Technology at the Rotary National Science & Technology Forum. Selected as two out of 168 students nationwide, the dynamic duo spent two weeks honing their STEM skills and getting a firsthand glimpse into university life.
The Rotary National Science & Technology Forum offers a unique opportunity for Year 12 students in New Zealand with a passion for Science, Mathematics, and Technology to explore the career opportunities that STEM offers.
The pair were able to sit in on real lectures from Auckland University, AUT as well as Massey, delving into 13 different modules of STEM. These were not only presented by university lecturers, but also by professionals from large companies such as Air New Zealand and Fisher & Paykel, allowing them to learn from multiple different perspectives.
Exploring the Bio-Medical Engineering module, Depali’s highlight was taking a glimpse into some of the new technologies that hospitals and scientists were developing. Using a real model of a chest, the pair were able to use technology to analyse and detect where tumours are most likely to form!
Meanwhile, one of Margot’s highlights was at the AUT Fitness Centre, where she was able to participate in a series of tests, including a VO2 Max test, to measure how much oxygen her body uses during exercise. The NZ Police also came for a module, and the pair got to delve into the world of forensics, learning how to take fingerprints from a scene and even getting their prints done themselves!
Outside of lectures, they stayed in Auckland University’s student accommodation and had plenty of social gatherings with other students (including a very competitive volleyball championship!). Congratulations girls – what an amazing experience!
