27 April 2011

Toby Hendy, from Katikati College and Lisa Craw from Otago Girl’s High School are the two students selected from New Zealand by the Royal Society of New Zealand to attend the USA International Space Camp.

Toby says “she has a huge interest in the field of science and believes that the study of astronomy and space are very important to humanity”. Toby is a member of the Tauranga Astronomy Club and saved up her money just so she could buy her own telescope to star gaze.

Lisa says “She has an endless curiosity and interest in all aspects of science, particularly mathematics and physics and enjoys being a member of the Dunedin Astronomical Society”.

Both will be supported by the Talented School Students Travel Award which is funded by the Ministry of Science & Innovation and administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand for her registration and international travel costs.

During their time at ISC they will be joined by over 150 like-minded students from 23 different countries. They will be immersed in a programme that is designed to promote space science and exploration. Some of the activities will include hands-on astronaut training, as well as learning about the mental, emotional and physical demands astronauts must face. The trainees are also involved in leadership training and will experience scuba diving and four G’s of lift off force and actual weightlessness in the Space simulator.

The students going from New Zealand to the USA International Space Camp are among 33 students from around New Zealand in Year 12 and 13 who have been selected by the Royal Society of New Zealand to attend international science and technology events around the world.

Other events which students will be attending are the Biofutures forum in Brisbane, the London International Youth Science Forum, the Professor Harry Messels Science School, Sydney, the Youth ANZAAS conference in Brisbane and the 4th APEC Youth Science Forum in Thailand.

ENDS

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