Combine over 300 delegates, from more than 30 different economies, all suffering from a lack of sleep, in tropical temperatures and an overwhelming need to escape the boredom of inane dialogue sessions; and you have an incredible experience.

The Asian Science Camp 2017 held in Perak, Malaysia, was an amazing event that I was honoured to attend and to represent New Zealand. The calibre of the lecturing speakers was top-notch, and the highly titled scientists or captains of industry covered a diverse range of topics: from cognitive plasticity to the frontiers of fundamental physics and the palm oil industry. Other than the lectures, there were dialogue sessions, a royal address from the Sultan of Perak, a poster competition, dialogue competition, excursion day, Malaysian Cultural Showcase and performances from many of the delegations present, in addition to the inevitable international games and banter.

While some of the speakers appeared to be disseminating propaganda, the majority of the lectures were interesting. Personally, I found the first lecture by Professor Poo Mu-ming, Paul Licht distinguished professor emeritus at University of California, Berkeley, fascinating. His lecture covered neuroscience, focusing on cognition, synapses and neural plasticity. I found this enthralling and a logical extension of what I had previously encountered in neuroscience. Likewise, the other lecturers also opened doors into other subjects and expertly imparted their knowledge, whether we understood it or not, and implored us to seek a full and enriching career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) fields. I now appreciate the vast diversity of careers that are available in STEM and am further convinced that that is a path I will take for the future.

The structure of the camp, which apparently differed significantly from previous years, was draining and demanding, requiring delegates to sit through more than five hours of presentations a day, often with reduced or delayed breaks between sessions. However, the saving grace of the camp was the students. From geographical locations as varied as Russia, Japan, Mauritius, Australia, South Korea, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, each of us brought our unique blend of culture, traditions and heritage to a warmly welcoming international stage. Right from the obligatory icebreakers to the teary-eyed departures and farewells, we made firm friends. Furthermore, each of these friends have inspired me to strive for personal excellence and mastery in my academic pursuits and life, and I am sure they will continue to do so. I have also connected with the other New Zealand delegates, who are amazing people that I am lucky to know and look forward to seeing again, through many card games and a series of eclectic conversations throughout our trip.

I have learnt much from the Asian Science Camp. I now have a global perspective and can relate to a wider range of issues; my understanding has grown too; I feel more confident in my plans, and above all I have gained newfound respect for New Zealand, the tikanga, and the culture of our indigenous people, the Māori. Put concisely, I am tremendously proud to be a New Zealander, and thankful for this opportunity.

I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of STAR funding and the School Council at King's who helped me reach Malaysia.

Liam Hewson.