Dylan Davey, "our" co-sponsored student, spoke on the Students Science and Technology Forum he attended in Auckland.
We have often wondered what goes on at the courses or forums we sponsor and Dylan gave a particularly clear and helpful account of the one he attended for two weeks last January. Dylan is now a year 13 student at St Patrick's College in Silverstream which he has attended since his family came to New Zealand from South Africa in 2015.
The course comprised a number of academic modules and some group activities such as debating, forming a business, dragon boating, volleyball and debating. It was a very intense but enjoyable course. Some of the academic modules were based on science in action and were very technologically advanced. Until very recently sequencing DNA was only possible in a few advanced laboratories in the world and was hideously expensive to do but one of their activities was extracting and sequencing their own DNA. Other modules included chrystallification of molecules, making pure ethanol from wine, smashing onions made brittle by liquid nitrogen, assessing performance measurements, and developing injections without needles.
We often wonder whether our sponsored students really benefit from such courses but here Dylan gave a clear answer: he was now much clearer about what he wanted to study at year 13 and university and had met and learned from some amazing people and made amazing friends.
When pushed, Dylan admitted to being Deputy Head Boy, the most valued member of the 2nd X15 and having acheived excellence in five academic subjects. Thank you Dylan, we now have a much better idea of what goes on at these courses and we are sure the experience has widened your knowledge and that you will use your knowledge in the future to make a better world.