A Nelson and Colne College Physics student will be jetting off to Australia in June to attend a sensational Science trip of a lifetime in Sydney.
Farihaa Motala, 18, from Blackburn, is one of five UK students to be selected to go on the all-expenses paid trip to the International Science School, and the British quintet will join 135 other budding Science stars from countries across the globe.
During a rigorous selection process, Farihaa wowed the judges with her 1,000 word essay on Non-Newtonian fluids, those that act as a liquid and a solid at the same time, and impressively came through an interview process held at the University of York.
While in Australia, Farihaa will be taking part in two weeks of scientific talks, lab tours, experiments and other hands-on activities based around the topic of future power.
She will be staying at a boarding school on the edge of the iconic Sydney harbour and will travel across to the University on a daily basis. There, she will meet and learn from inspiring scientists about cutting-edge research and experience University life in its research and teaching labs and lecture theatres.
Farihaa said: “I’m so pleased and excited about it. I can’t wait! I was really surprised to have been offered a place though because I knew it was very competitive.
“The theme of this year’s ISS is future power and the EPQ I’m also doing through College is based on climate change. I will definitely be able to learn a lot from this experience to help towards that as there will be resources I can use that I ordinarily would not be able to.
“It will be very interesting to meet people from different backgrounds as well.”
Farihaa excelled in all Sciences at GCSE level but found that Physics was the subject that interested her the most.
Farihaa added: “I really like being able to apply the theory in Physics and that’s why I chose it here at NCC. I enjoy that way of learning. I’m thinking of studying Physics and Philosophy at University.”
NCC has a Career College ethos and encourages students to enrich their own learning as well as providing set enrichment opportunities, such as a residential trip to Kielder Observatory to learn about our solar system and the universe, and to CERN in Geneva, in Physics.
Lee Peel, Farihaa’s Physics teacher, is thrilled at the news of her place and believes she will make an impression on the trip.
Lee said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Farihaa has been accepted on to ISS 2017 and I’m very happy for her.
“She is an extremely enthusiastic learner who is keen to be fully involved in practical activities. Farihaa can work independently and in a team and asks lots of questions inside and outside of lessons. She is a pleasure to teach.
“This is an excellent opportunity for Farihaa and she will be meeting people who are leading lights and at the forefront of Science. It will be very good for her University applications too and I’m sure she will make the most of this once in a lifetime trip.”
Nelson and Colne College has an Outstanding success rate for its STEM provision, seeing students each year progressing to some of the top Universities in the country. This includes Lotte Gleeson, who last year secured her dream place to study Physics at the University of Oxford following her time at NCC.
For more information about Nelson and Colne College contact 01282 440272 or visit www.nelson.ac.uk
