Happy campers at summer science camp
Fifteen of New Zealand's brightest high school science pupils from across the country spent a week in Wellington getting an introduction to nanoscience and advanced materials during Nanocamp 2016.
The annual camp, sponsored by the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology and held for the sixth year, introduces year 12 and 13 pupils to physics and chemistry with a hands-on programme.
“The pupils get to carry out experiments in the labs and learn from a number of Victoria University lecturers,” says Dr Franck Natali. “Our aim is to show how great science is, the many things they can learn and encourage them to pursue science after high school.”
The camp, held from 18-22 January, included courses in spintronics, microscopy, nanoelectronics, chemistry, superconductors, and optics at Victoria University of Wellington, Callaghan Innovation, and GNS Science.
The programme also included a walking tour of Wellington, a visit to Carter Observatory and the tour Zealandia by Night.
The participants said they learnt a lot about the opportunities open to them at university, and particularly enjoyed the chemistry session where they made glowsticks and the superconductivity session that included levitating superconductors.
Ngā Tapuwae pupil Taiawa Kotlowski, said that the camp is a great opportunity to learn.
“My science teacher secretly applied for me. I think it’s a good starting point if you’re looking to go into these areas after high school.”
Yu Ting Nui from Auckland International College enjoyed the practical aspect of the programme. “We don’t study nanotechnology at high school, so it’s nice to discover something different,” she says. “All the teachers are really nice and helpful.”