Petra Fisher
Petra's involvement with Royal Society Te Apārangi began in 2019. She share's her passions and journey since being selected to attend the USA Space Camp.
Kia ora, my name’s Petra. I was the recipient of an International Science Opportunity (the USA Space Camp) from the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi in 2019. I am currently in my last year of a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Physics and Computer Science, and minoring in Mathematics.
I am passionate about space science - including space exploration, technology and astrophysics. We are in a very exciting time in this field, and I’d love to be right at the forefront of it. On the space physics side of things, I have completed two summer research internships with the University of Otago, one in astrophysics and applied maths, and the other in space weather.
I am also passionate about my community and the outdoors. This is my second year working as a Residential Assistant at Knox College. At Knox, I am directly responsible for the pastoral care of a group of ~25 first year university students. Furthermore, I like to give back to my community through working as the President of the Otago Mathematics and Physics Students Association and through environmental conservation based volunteering.
In my spare time, I enjoy a variety of sports. So far this year, my favourite ones have been tramping, powerlifting, and long distance running. The 2023 Dunedin Half Marathon will be my fourth half marathon after starting running as my lockdown hobby in 2020.
I graduate in December, and am excited to enrol in an Honours degree in Astrophysics. I’d like to thank the Royal Society for their support in 2019, which helped fuel my love for space sciences and space exploration, and was hugely influential in the career path I have taken so far.