Young scientists to get experience at world's leading institutions

Patrick Imrie and Zeb Barry who will travel to Europe next month to attend the London International Youth Science Forum. Photo / George Novak

Two students from Aquinas College are off to the London International Youth Science Forum next month.

Year 13 Aquinas College students Zeb Barry and Patrick Imrie are to attend the youth science forum and visit the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The two students would leave on July 27 for the three-week trip.

You don't get the kind of exposure to science and math here in New Zealand that we will see there.

Zeb Barry, Aquinas College student

The youth science forum is a two-week residential event held at Imperial College London, with lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists, and visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions and world-class laboratories and universities.

It attracts 500 of the world's leading young scientists aged 17 to 21 from more than 65 countries. They would then travel to CERN with a two-night stop off in Paris.

Zeb said while in the UK he would be attending a range of lectures on topics such as black holes.

He was excited about being able to visit Oxford University's Department of Physics, he said.

"You don't get to go to stuff like this here in Tauranga," he said.

"You can go to the occasional lecture at Waikato open days but nothing to the extent of this.

"You don't get the kind of exposure to science and math here in New Zealand that we will see there."

He was studying chemistry and physics and would like to take either health science or engineering next year at university.

Seventy per cent of Zeb's trip would be funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Patrick said he was excited about seeing Oxford's physics department.

The 17-year-old was going to use the trip to find out what he wanted to study at university, although his favourite subject was physics.

"I like the logic behind it," he said.

"It's black and white, not like English or other subjects." He was also looking forward to other things offered on the trip, like visiting the London Eye, having dinner under the Eiffel Tower and going to the Jersey Boys show.

Year 13 Dean Joanne Macown said the trip would be huge eye-opener for the students.

"It's a great opportunity to meet like-minded young people too and open their eyes to what is available in the world for them.

"The opportunity to experience one of the leading universities in the world, world class lecturers and where science can take you."

LIYSF snapshot:

* Founded in 1959, the London International Youth Science Forum aims to give a deeper insight into science and its applications for the benefit of all mankind and to develop a greater understanding between young people of all nations.

* It is a two-week residential event in London which attracts more than 500 of the world's leading young scientists aged 17 to 21 from more than 65 participating countries.