During the April school holidays, Kate Stedman (13SN) was one of 20 secondary school students from around New Zealand who had the good fortune of attending the Elaine P. Snowden Astronomy School. She tells of her time at Astronomy camp.

The University of Canterbury hosted us for the first few days of the programme, but two nights were spent at the world-class Mt John observatory in Tekapo. HOD physics Mrs Sue Napier accompanied me.

It was an experience to remember. Three days were spent in UC's new state-of-the-art Engineering core, meeting leading astronomers and physicists and learning about current research and developments in their respective fields. 

At Tekapo, we spent some time sightseeing and stargazing, but we also had the wonderful opportunity to talk to the astronomers working on site about their work. 

I was surrounded by incredibly bright minds, both of other students and of the researchers and astronomers we met along the way. 

I was honoured to spend time listening to the ideas of some of the most respected people in physics and astronomy, and it was humbling to meet the enthusiastic and dedicated students attending the school with me.

I am also grateful for the conversations about university and science careers that were facilitated by this programme, and I left Tekapo with a renewed sense of enthusiasm about science and where it could take me.