Student showcase

Allen Crimmins

My name is Allen Crimmins and I am a first year engineering student at the University of Auckland having just completed my 7th form year at Pukekohe High School. In my last year I took on many leadership roles including house leader and technical roles including lighting rigging and operation, alongside the usual collection of cultural and sporting activities.

One of the key events of last year was the RSNZ Big Science Adventures documentary competition. With two other students, who quickly became friends, we took up the challenge and independently designed, shot and developed our five minute film on the nearby Steel Mill documenting the unique process of converting iron sand into molten iron before becoming steel. As first time entrants, significant time was spent getting to know the limits of our collected equipment but soon we had produced a film worthy of a place in the finalists earning us a place on a scientific research vessel running through Fiordland in the Deep South. This was the site and topic of our ten minute second effort with a new HD video camera sponsored wholly by New Zealand Steel and additional film developement equipment and expertise in the form of a recent film graduate courtesy of RSNZ. The experience in Doubtful Sound was hugely interesting and shockingly educational - and an unforgettable week in my life.

Throughout high school, I was constantly interested by science, particularly chemistry and physics. These subjects were taught with flair and the hands-on approach of many of the lessons is proving well suited to the practical, "real-world" forms of chemistry and physics found in engineering where problem solving is key. The first year of the degree is a broad overview of the engineering disciplines including mechanics (physics), electrical engineering, mathematical modelling, chemistry and even a little biology. After completing this year, I am currently aiming at the Chemical and Materials Engineering area but with so many options vying for my attention this general year will be most useful in assuring I choose correctly.

My connection to New Zealand Steel continues as I was awarded an undergraduate scholarship which includes summer work at the Steel Mill in an engineering role which will give practical meaning to the material in the degree and point out some possibilities for my future path.