Chilean Blog
Exploring Auckland with the Kiwi IQ Winners
Monday, 15 June 2009
Our Kiwi IQ contest winners from India spent their first full day in Auckland learning a thing or two about the great opportunities available to students.
They kicked off the day with a visit to the University of Auckland, and were immediately impressed by the sprawling campus and modern facilities. “Indian universities are nothing like this.” Said Rashmi Rao, a journalist accompanying the winners on their trip.
They had a chance to check out the Food Science department and see how some of the research equipment works. (And also wear cool lab coats and googles so they could blend in with the other researchers.) They also enjoyed a special visit to the science departments in-house glass blowing facility, where specialist glass equipment is made. Then they visited the Engineering faculty and had a private question and answer session with the Associate Dean.
The next stop on their academic tour was Natcoll Design Technology. As a designer, Vikash was particularly excited about the chance to see first hand the kinds of projects created by the talented students there. Most of the teaching is hands on and the students finish with a portfolio of professional level work to help kickstart their careers.
The afternoon was reserved for some wild times at Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World and Antarctic Experience. They arrived just in time for the stingray feeding, where they saw the keeper getting very cosy with a two metre wide stingray. Then they checked out the king and gentoo penguins who call this home. Finally, it was through the aquarium tunnel surrounded by sharks, more rays and all kinds of sea creatures.
All in all, their New Zealand tour is off to a flying start, and tomorrow they’ll be heading out of Auckland to see what the rest of the country has to offer.
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