The next few months will be a busy one for Yr. 12 student, Aaron Hewson. He has been selected for a number of Science opportunities with the participants selected from hundreds of students across the country.

1) BioOlympiad

He will be part of the training camp in 2020. From this camp, four students will be selected to go to.... 

2) UC Summer Science Camp

This runs from the 2nd to the 6th of December 2019, it is a 5-day event for 'Year 12 students interested in studying Science at university.' Based at the Ilam Campus in Christchurch, it involves a programme of lectures, lab work, field station visits, meeting with current staff/students, and finding out about some of the research going on at UC. Some of the events planned for this years programme are psychology workshops, ecological monitoring, geological investigations using drones/GPS, renewable energy/storage workshops, and medical imaging. He is one of 60 students selected. 

3) Powering Potential 

Runs from the 16th to the 18th of December 2019. This is an opportunity that brings together tauira students from across Aotearoa to collaborate, research and offer solutions to significant issues. Mentored through the process by a Kaipūtaiao Scientist, students are given only two days before they have to compile their findings into a formal presentation.

4) Rotary National Science and Technology Forum 

Runs from the 11th to the 25th of January 2020. The forum aims to 'grow more Science graduates for New Zealand across all areas of scientific study.' Based in Auckland, and run by AUT, Massey and Auckland University, the Forum exposes us to some of the recent developments in the STEM fields in a lecture setting, as well as the opportunity to work in the laboratories and field stations of the various tertiary institutions around Auckland. External organisations heavily involved in STEM will also be visiting, such as Landcare Research, ESR Forensics and Fisher & Paykel, to name a few - this is to 'enable us to develop a sense of the impact that Science and Technology make across a range of industry sectors as well as appreciate the strong global reputation New Zealand has in this area.' It also offers an opportunity for networking, as he will be one of up to '168 high-achieving STEM students from secondary schools around New Zealand.' Each Rotary district is granted a limited number of places at the Forum to allocate to students from their district. Thus, he has been chosen as one of the representatives for District 9980. To get to this competitive district selection, however, he was endorsed by the Rotary Club of Dunedin East, so he would like to thank them for this fantastic opportunity (they also funded the majority of the costs, so further thanks for that).