DiscoveryCamp and NanoCamp 2024 - Annual Report 2024

News & events

DiscoveryCamp and NanoCamp 2024 - Annual Report 2024

1 July, 2025

NanoCamp

Our Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland and Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau Auckland University of Technology researchers hosted ten Year 12 and 13 students at our annual NanoCamp, 21-25 January.

The programme included labs where the students learnt about nanoparticles and solar cells, a visit to the Photon Factory and a day trip to Tiritiri Matangi Island, as well as a panel of our current PhD students talking about their own journeys in science and academia.

Was NanoCamp 2024 anything like I expected? No. But it was even better than I could have imagined. And I will be forever grateful for this experience.

NanoCamp 2024 attendees, organisers and volunteers in Albert Park, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

NanoCamp 2024 attendees, organisers and volunteers in Albert Park, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

I personally find failure something scary and uncomfortable. But (the PhD students we spoke with) were in agreement that failure is good and it's always going to part of the journey. I learnt we should always be open to failure and always learn from failure.

DiscoveryCamp

DiscoveryCamp took place in Pōneke Wellington and was run by our Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington-based researchers, 22-26 January.

Ten Year 12 and 13 students spent the week building their own solar cells, investigating MRI and the scanning electron microscope, learning about space science, lab visits and visiting GNS Science and Paihau-Robinson Research Institute.

DiscoveryCamp helped me to realise that there are other people like me who want to do the same things or similar things and...(that) science is so much more than I could ever imagine.

DiscoveryCamp 2024 attendees during visit to Zealandia

DiscoveryCamp 2024 attendees during visit to Zealandia

DiscoveryCamp has definitely made me feel more confident as a Māori female wanting to gain science based degrees.