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Photo by Rebecca O'Loughlin

Rotary Science and Technology Forum 2021

Rebecca O'Loughlin —

During the 2020-2021 summer holidays, Blaithan Altenberg, Kush Desai and William Wray were given the wonderful opportunity to attend the annual Rotary National Science and Technology Forum

During the 2020-2021 summer holidays, three Burnside students, Kush Desai, Blaithan Altenburg, William Wray were given the wonderful opportunity to attend the annual Rotary National Science and Technology Forum. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we would like to thank Miss O’Loughlin and our representative rotary clubs for all of their support. This forum had over 170 students from around the country attend to get together and embrace themselves in the world of science and technology. Through this forum, we experienced what life in different scientific careers looks like and made valuable connections that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

The forum was a two-week, full on experience in which we attended two three-hour lectures each day on specific fields of science and technology. They were all unique in their own way and provided us with a lot of knowledge about the fields. Some of these included sports science, robotics, molecular biology, chemistry, and biomedical engineering. Apart from these modules, we also got to go on three tech visits to areas in Auckland leading the way in their field such as TVNZ, Landcare Research, and Foodbowl. Throughout the forum, we learned and experienced what opportunities are available for young New Zealanders such as ourselves as we leave schooling.

Although we learnt a lot at the forum, we also had plenty of chances to relax and have some fun with everyone that we were meeting. The volleyball tournament was a great way to bring some more competition into the forum, with the six colour teams battling it out to be the volleyball champions. Kush’s own team, purple, managed to take it out and beat all of the other teams with a perfect streak. We also were able to take a couple of days off to go and explore Auckland and one of its beaches to get a break from all of the modules. This was a great time for us to get to know each other a little bit more outside of the academic side of things. We went around to see the America’s Cup races, took advantage of Auckland’s many shopping areas, and ate a lot of food. It was really nice to be able to get away from the modules and just have some fun like we normally would with our friends back home. Besides from sport, there were so many performance opportunities available as well for people that wanted to share their talents with everybody. Whether it was the jamming along to Taylor Swift on the bus rides to modules, screaming our heart out in the Boys Club Semi-Elite Choir, or learning how to play I Will Survive with five other people you’ve never met in five days, there really was something for everyone.

Overall, the Forum was an absolutely amazing experience and we all wish that we could be right back on the first night sitting in the Waipārūrū Hall trying to make conversation with strangers just like us, not knowing that the next two weeks would be some of the best in our lives.

Kush Desai, Blaithan Altenburg, William Wray