Student showcase

Chuan-Zheng

Chuan-Zheng almost left school after year 12 to begin studying at university, but he says he has no regrets about staying at school for year 13: “The opportunities I had last year were awesome—there’s really no year like year 13.  I met so many people and made heaps of new friends, and I got to take part in things I would never have had the chance to do otherwise.”

These “things” began with the Rotary National Science Technology Forum in January, or, as he described it: “The best two weeks ever.  It was heaps of fun.  You meet some really amazing and enthusiastic people there.”  He was soon to learn just how small the world could be, encountering many fellow “Forumers” at the University of Auckland’s MAX programme, training for his role as his school’s student trustee, the Chemistry Olympiad team selection camp, Realise the Dream and the Youth Parliament.

In July, Chuan-Zheng was one of four to represent New Zealand at the 39th International Chemistry Olympiad in Moscow, in which 65 countries took part.  This was a clear highlight of the year, he says, especially getting to meet and interact with people from so many different countries—even if the five-hour exams were a bit stretching.  He returned home with a silver medal, and is thankful towards the Royal Society for their financial support in making the trip possible, through the Talented School Students Travel Award.

Later that year, Chuan-Zheng came first in the 17+ year old division of the ETITO Bright Sparks competition and was successfully nominated to attend Realise the Dream in December.  His project, called the “Internet Gateway Information Display”, used radio communication to provide information about whether a connection to the internet is active to wireless network users, enabling users physically away from an internet gateway to tell if internet access is available.

Chuan-Zheng attended Mount Roskill Grammar School, where he was Dux in 2007.  He was a school prefect, in the top debating team, and actively involved in music, the production band, basketball, and the student council.  He studied calculus at level 3 in year 11, chemistry and physics in year 12, and economics, English, electronics technology and French in year 13.  After the MAX programme, he went on to complete a stage two mathematics paper.

A recipient of the University of Auckland Scholarship, Chuan-Zheng is now studying engineering there.  When he gets some spare time, he enjoys playing the piano, playing and refereeing basketball and working with electronics.  His interests are many, but it is in electronics and computers that he envisages his career.