Teen set to take on climate change
Nelson College student Matthew French thought his future was in rugby but a back condition changed his path toward science.
Seventeen-year-old Matthew is the only student from Nelson invited to the Royal Society’s ‘‘Powering Potential’’ conference in Wellington next month to discuss climate change solutions.
‘‘I’m excited about meeting the people there, working with like minds.’’
He said the subject of climate change was quite complex.
‘‘Especially at our age, I don’t know how it’s going to go really, it will be really interesting.’’
Matthew was originally diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis – a form of spinal arthritis.
He said the doctors had since then dismissed the diagnosis and were waiting to see if his symptoms would subside.
Matthew said he still had back pains but they were less severe since he stopped playing rugby.
‘‘Since that situation with my back happened I decided that I’ve found a real passion in science.
‘‘It was kind of the opportunity to take a hold of my strengths and pursue them.’’
Matthew said learning science and mathematics at Nelson College came more naturally to him than languages.
‘‘So I decided that I would focus all my energy on science.’’
He said a school project at the beginning of the year that focussed on investigating water quality in rivers around Nelson sparked his interest.
‘‘I guess doing that made me realise that I just really enjoyed the process of research and devel- oping.’’
The conference runs from December 12 to 15 and brings together New Zealand’s most promising science students to find answers to some of New Zealand’s future problems around climate change.
The students will work in teams of four over three days on a question that has been submitted by a science organisation.
They will research, investigate and collaborate to provide recommendations on the topic.
Each selected student had to submit an in-depth application and video explaining their own science strengths or outline how they had contributed to an area of science in their school or community.
All costs for the students, including social activities, are covered by the Royal Society of New Zealand and Freemasons New Zealand.