Katikati student heading to Space Camp

Toby Hendy, from Katikati College is one of two students selected from New Zealand by the Royal Society of New Zealand to attend the USA International Space Camp.

The 15-year-old is excited to have been selected. "She 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.

"Space is the final frontier for humans and one of the only things still a mystery."

Toby is in Year 12 and a member of the Tauranga Astronomy Club. She saved up her money so she could buy her own telescope to star gaze.

An email from her biology teacher Nicola Wynne about the space science camps sparked her interest. With excellent NCEA results, particularly in science and English, along with the help of the college's head of science Matt Kindley, Toby sent off her application along with her CV just over a month ago.

"I had no idea whether I would get in, but I was hoping," she says.

Toby will join Lisa Craw from Otago Girls' High School on the eight-day International Space Camp in July.

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. Activities 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 Gs of lift-off force and 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 fourth APEC Youth Science Forum in Thailand.