Rachael's legacy—a decade of student support
Students and staff gathered for morning tea alongside generous donors Erik and Trudy Westergaard to recognise the tenth anniversary of the Rachael Westergaard Memorial Master’s Scholarship in Geophysics. Rachael, who attended the University from 2009 to 2012, was deeply passionate about the field of geophysics and intended to pursue it for her Master’s degree.
It was an incredible occasion, say Trudy and Erik.
“The highlight was meeting the two scholarship recipients for 2023—Sarah Wright and Liam Bramwell—and catching up with several of the past recipients.
“Rachael would be so pleased that the scholarship is able to support such talented young people who share her passion for geophysics.”
The endowed Rachael Westergaard Memorial Scholarship in Geophysics is extremely generous, providing $20,000 plus tuition fees to support students. To recognise Rachael’s dual citizenship it is open to both New Zealand and Canadian citizens.
Concerned by increasing challenges associated with climate change, the Westergaards say there is an urgent need to better understand the complex forces that have shaped New Zealand.
“The past ten years have seen billions of dollars of damage and hundreds of thousands of people impacted, including many deaths. Rachael would be a vocal advocate for increasing investment in and support for geophysics, and proud that her scholarship makes a small contribution to advancing critical research.”
Recipient Liam Bramwell says that he hopes to one day be able to help students achieve their goals just as the Westergaards have helped him.
“Words cannot adequately describe the effect the award has had on my life, significantly lightening my financial concerns, and allowing me to concentrate fulltime on my studies and research.”
Liam’s research focuses on a geophysical analysis of Mt Ruapehu, integrating geochemical and crater lake temperature data to better understand recent events at this active volcano. Liam hopes this work will result in better safeguarding of New Zealand communities and lead him to a career in geophysical volcanology.
After a few tough years of studying through COVID-19, scholarship recipient Sarah Wright describes the award as the “light at the end of the tunnel.” She says she is incredibly honoured to follow in the footsteps of the many others who have received the award over the past ten years.
“I am grateful to the Westergaards, not only for supporting me personally but also for supporting Geophysics at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
“The Rachael Westergaard Memorial Scholarship has been an invaluable financial support as well as empowering exciting research in the geophysics space.”
Sarah is enjoying her research project on the thermal properties of the Alpine Fault and has almost collected all the data she needs for analysis. She hopes to better understand the temperatures at which the Alpine Fault operates and how they may influence the fault’s behaviour during an earthquake.
“I have conducted amazing field work on the West Coast and travelled to Wairakei to measure the thermal properties of my samples at the GNS Science laboratory.
Thanks to the scholarship, I was able to cover my living costs back home while I was away, and I am now excited to begin analysing my results.”
Sarah says, “It was lovely to meet the Westergaards and get to know the faces behind the scholarship. They were keenly interested in my research, and it was great to see that their support extends beyond the financial aid of the scholarship.”
Professor John Townend, a geophysicist and former Head of the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, has supervised several of the students who benefitted from the Westergaards’ generosity over the last ten years.
John says, “New Zealand is facing ever more complex, intertwined challenges associated with climate change, the effects of natural hazards on infrastructure and people, environmental degradation, and the sustainable, equitable use of resources.
“Erik and Trudy have recognised how important it is to sustain a highly trained scientific workforce, and their support for our geophysics students in Rachael’s memory is absolutely invaluable.”