Science student stories

A lot of freedom

“I’ve always been passionate about the science of our changing climate. When I was deciding what to study, I found that it was impossible to pick only one or two majors. Studying Environmental Change means that I can take my pick of courses from Geography, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Marine Science and more! This freedom really drew me to the programme.”

Why Auckland?

“The University of Auckland is the only university that offers the unique Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) and all its perks. It’s also the best university in New Zealand for Geography and the Environmental Sciences. I saw the breadth of School of Environment courses here at Auckland and the facilities available. It would have been a mistake to go anywhere else!”

My future

“My interests and motivation lie with Environmental Science, but the programme is equally appealing to students across the board. In fact there are 13 specialisations available.

“I’d like to continue through to postgraduate study. The programme really promotes this pathway. For instance, in your fourth year you get to collaborate and conduct research with an academic mentor. The Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) programme can lead straight onto PhD study, which is really appealing to me. I am really interested in studying climate change and its effects, past, present and future. I hope that one day I will be able to undertake research that will help humanity fight climate change.”

Science Scholars Programme
“My studies are helping me to understand what I’m most interested in whilst keeping future opportunities open – whether they be further study or moving into industry. Additionally, I was accepted into the Science Scholars module. The three-course programme combines one-on-one mentoring with rich interaction across the faculty. Participants also gain research opportunities that aren’t usually available to undergraduate students.

Mentoring
“Science scholars come from all the science disciplines. We get to know each other really well. We hear from scientists, science communicators, and industry-based scientists, discussing all manner of topics. Meeting people who have careers I aspire to has been particularly enjoyable. We each get a mentor, too. Through mine, I’ve learnt about incredibly interesting research areas I wouldn’t otherwise have known about. And I’ve met people working in those fields.

Innovation and business opportunities
“My current Science Scholars course is all about science, innovation and business opportunities. A teaching fellow from the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is bringing opportunities for entrepreneurship directly to us.

Flexibility
“The BSc is very flexible. I’m enrolled in a double major (Chemistry and Physics), plus Science Scholars, and two General Education courses (Accounting and Pharmacy). I didn’t have any difficult choices to make as I could do everything I wanted to.

Practical work
“I really like the laboratories and practical work side. The chemistry laboratories are definitely a step up (actually a whole staircase up) from those in secondary school. There’s better equipment, more time, and more interesting experiments. Getting to play with all the equipment is great fun!”

“Geophysics attracted me because I was interested in the environmental impacts of human activity and ways in which the earth’s surface geology tells us stories about its past.
“I didn’t begin my degree with a clear career path. You can’t go on SEEK and look up ‘jobs for physicists’. I had to think very carefully. I hoped my studies would lead to employment somewhere like NIWA or GNS.”

Aiming high

“Ultimately, I would love to work for NASA and apply my geophysics knowledge to learn more about other planets. But I would be equally happy to move into a different sector. I did an internship at Price Waterhouse Coopers in the Digital Forensics team in the summer of 2021/22. I really enjoyed that and used a lot of the coding skills I’d learnt earlier.
“I was recently awarded the Dennis Brown Experimental physics prize for my work in PHYSICS 390 (Experimental Physics). I didn’t really expect to win. Some of my peers had achieved better marks, but my lecturers valued me for more than my grades. That shows the progressive thinking in the Physics Department – and at the core of science itself.”

Complementary subjects

“Geophysics acts as a nice complement to Physics. Physics provided me with a solid foundation for learning about the earth, atmosphere and oceans in geophysics. I also like the broad nature of what I study because I’m not restricted to one industry or career. It certainly made finding work a little harder, but I’ve had a job offer even before graduating!”
 

Passion for the environment
“I’ve always had a passion for the environment; growing up with hobbies that constantly had me in the outdoors made me want to learn about and explore the physical world around me. The more I progressed in my high-school studies, the more I found my passion for technology, problem solving and understanding the role that humans play within the environment. Studying both Geographic Information Science and Environmental Science at the University of Auckland perfectly blended these ideas together.

Practical skills
“I love that the programme is heavily focused on teaching you practical skills and giving you the opportunity to communicate your learning through various modes, not just traditional assignment styles. My studies have made me feel more confident about pursuing jobs after graduation, with a more solid foundation of understanding topics and software. I also appreciate the range of topics we cover throughout the degree, as it really gives you the chance to pinpoint the areas you are most interested in.

Great connections
“I’ve had great connections with staff and fellow students. I’ve always been able to get in contact with tutors and lecturers, and I’ve received a bunch of support. They’ve really helped me to achieve the best I can.

“The science faculty also organises many extracurricular activities, such as hackathons, quiz nights, clubs and career events. These are all super useful for making friendly connections while exploring your interests.”
 

“Choosing my major was hard but I have always had an interest in psychology and wanted this to be the main focus of my degree. I love to learn about why people do the things they do – and how we can use this knowledge to understand everyday behaviours. Eventually I’d love to become a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.

Programme highlights

“I’ve really enjoyed my assignments. In PSYCH 108 we wrote an essay about an activity or environment that allows us to flourish as an individual. It allowed me to discuss a subject I was passionate about. I really enjoyed this assignment and put a lot of time and effort into it. I also love the selection of PSYCH papers you are able to choose from in stage 2 and 3 of the programme.

Leadership through Learning

“I am of NZ European and Tongan descent, so last semester I had the opportunity to be a part of an amazing programme called Leadership Through Learning. It’s a leadership development programme for students of Māori and Pacific background across all disciplines at the University.

“I met some amazing people and developed many leadership skills. I also learnt about the cultures that make up the indigenous community at the University, which I now feel part of. The amazing coordinators and tutors in this programme become your whānau at the University, creating a space that brings a sense of belonging and aroha. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to be a part of it.”
 

“I was injured while playing sport at an elite level so I have a special interest in the causes, prevention and rehabilitation of sporting injury. There’s a comprehensive subject choice within the BSc programme, and my Exercise Sciences major includes many sub-disciplines that can be used to enhance both peak performance and health. I anticipate that my degree will give me the opportunity for further study in the field of exercise sciences, bioengineering or medicine.”

An expanding field

“The increasing focus on exercise for health makes it an expanding field with exciting research opportunities. It’s not only about improving athletic performance. We also explore how movement can improve the lives of people with conditions such as stroke and cardiometabolic diseases.
“I’ve developed a number of skills that will be valuable in any field, for example, critical review and analysis of information, problem solving, data collection, scientific writing and presentation. Also, my Summer Research Scholarship gave me a taste of practical research and some insight into what the life of an academic involves.”

A great learning community

“I like the department’s community feel, which makes it easy to get to know classmates and lecturers. The teaching staff are all very approachable and willing to help you succeed.”

Student disability services

“I have used Disability Services to facilitate my learning and succeed academically. To support students with impairments, they offer many services, such as special testing conditions and designated study rooms.”