The sky is the limit for a Tauranga student selected to take part in a London International Youth Science Forum in Geneva this year.
Nicholas Adams, 17, joins five other students from throughout New Zealand to take part in the July event. The students were selected by the Royal Society of New Zealand from more than 300 applications.
"I think it is a great opportunity and it's something to show for all the hard work," he said.
Nicholas has just completed his first week at Tauranga Boys' College after moving from Bethlehem College and was keen to thank teachers Steve Te Whaiti and Helen McMullen who helped him in his studies. "When I found out, I immediately wanted to thank my teachers for their efforts and all the time they had given to me," he said.
Nicholas would join more than 300 students from more than 60 countries who would attend lectures given by eminent scientists and visit many scientific organisations in London. The students would visit two of England's oldest universities, Oxford and Cambridge, and get to see some of the science research taking place.
They would also visit Stonehenge and the Natural History Museum. After the forum has finished, they travel across Europe and spend three days in Paris before heading off to Geneva, where they spend some time at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research.
Nicholas, who plays rugby in the school's First XV, said he hoped to continue his passion for science once he moved on to tertiary education. "After school I would like to continue my studies in science and engineering at the University of Canterbury."
Nicholas said he was keen to obtain PhD qualifications before applying to Nasa.
Nicholas was the only student from Tauranga selected for the forum. Each student had to submit a testimonial from their principal and science teacher and write a letter to the panel outlining why they thought they were the ideal candidate.
The students' travel would be supported by the Talented School Students Travel Award, which was administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand and funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology.
Nicholas would leave in July and would be away nearly a month.
Nasa employs the world's top scientists, engineers and other technical staff with the aim of boldly expanding frontiers in air and space.