Science skill leads to London

ROBERT KITCHIN/Manawatu Standard

WINNING WAYS: A knack for science brings rewards, as Hermaleigh Townsley has found out, with a trip to London on the cards.

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A Palmerston North student is one of the beneficiaries of a Royal Society of New Zealand programme to help our top young science minds, writes EMMA GOODWIN.

At 17, Hermaleigh Townsley is finding out that being smart has its advantages when it comes to international travel.

The Palmerston North Girls' High School student is one of two young women who have been selected by the Royal Society of New Zealand to attend the London International Youth Science Forum in July.

"Science has always been something I have wanted to be involved in. I love every minute of it," says Hermaleigh.

Her teachers agree that she has abilities that will take her a long way and should be rewarded.

"Hermaleigh is an intelligent and hardworking student and she excels in all her subjects," says Dr Heather Meikle, co-ordinator of the Gifted Talented Programme at Palmerston North Girls' High School.

"She is undertaking research for a Gold CREST project this year, and was recently selected as one of 19 students to attend the New Zealand International Biology Olympiad training camp."

The other student who will accompany Hermaleigh on her trip to London is from Onslow College, Wellington.

Hermaleigh will be one of 300 like-minded students from 60 countries at the event, which this year will focus on developments in the sciences, with lecture demonstrations, seminars and debates led by scientists and experts, and scientific visits which will include Oxford and Cambridge universities.

"It's a great opportunity," says Hermaleigh.

One of the best parts is that it won't cost a fortune for her to take up the opportunity, because her travel and registration costs are being taken care of by by the Royal Society of New Zealand.

The society has selected 33 year-12 and 13 students from around New Zealand to attend international science and technology events around the world.

The London International Youth Science Forum is one of those events. Debbie Woodhall, of the Royal Society of New Zealand said more than 300 applications were received this year from keen science students.

"The standard of applications this year has been absolutely outstanding," she said.

Other events which students will be attending are the Biofutures forum in Brisbane, the Professor Harry Messels Science School in Sydney, the International Space Camp in the United States, the Youth ANZAAS conference in Brisbane, and the fourth APEC Youth Science Forum in Thailand.

- © Fairfax NZ News