In just one and a half years, one physics student has completed her Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree 鈥� that鈥檚 only half the time it usually takes.
But 18 year-old Kathryn Zealand isn鈥檛 your usual science student.
With a BSc under her wing, and her Honours degree and a Masters in Law underway, this student has the humanitarian role of lifetime in Uganda firmly in her sights.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking at humanitarian law and human rights advocacy because I鈥檝e had experience working with an NGO in that field, which I really enjoyed and feel passionately about,鈥� Ms Zealand said.
鈥淣ext year I hope to go to Uganda for a couple of months, which is exciting and slightly terrifying at the same time 鈥� I鈥檓 really looking forward to the challenge.
鈥淢ost people are surprised because I鈥檝e been physics, physics, physics, really strongly until now, but in some sense I wanted a bit of a break.
鈥淚鈥檓 not in a rush to do a PhD right away and get stuck into the research , particularly because I graduated with plenty of time to spare.鈥�
Ms Zealand said the support of her friends, and a little bit of martial arts, helped get her through the strain of such a busy study regime.
鈥淭ae Kwon Doe is my main sport. I think it鈥檚 really good to do lots of exercise when you鈥檙e studying like crazy because I find it鈥檚 a good stress release,鈥� she said.
鈥淢y office mate and I sometimes go together. So we spend all day bickering and annoying each other in the office and in the evening go and beat each other up, it鈥檚 great fun.鈥�
Although, she admits a passion for physics helps.
鈥淏ecause I love it so much, I don鈥檛 mind spending 12 hours a day doing physics. So for me it鈥檚 been really fun, although it can be stressful,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 had 11 exams last semester, so it was a crazy work load. It made me want to tear my hair out at times.鈥�
And a crazy workload it was with Ms Zealand doing nine to 10 subjects per semester in her first year 鈥� most people only manage four 鈥� while completing Year 12 at the same time.
鈥淚 looked at the first and second year physics subjects at 宅男导航 and some I was already familiar with from extension work during high school,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 was really looking for a challenge and wanted to skip straight to the very interesting third year courses.
鈥淏ut I had to do the first and second year courses to get the credit towards my BSc.鈥�
And she鈥檚 coped remarkably well finishing high school with an OP 1 and has completing her science degree with a high grade point average.
鈥淭he uni has been so flexible in accommodating me and some of my more ambitious plans,鈥� she said.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been very supportive and I commend them for that.鈥�
Ms Zealand said graduating from the Bachelor of Science almost snuck up on her because she鈥檚 been so busy with her Honours project 鈥� investigating the gravitational entropy of black holes.
鈥淥r gravitational entropy in general I guess, and energy conservation in the expanding universe, so all this cosmology stuff, which is just so fascinating,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 love the fact that I鈥檓 actually answering the big questions. I sit in my office every day and its like, ok, how鈥檚 the universe going to end?
鈥淭hings that as a kid you dream about being able to research, it鈥檚 great to finally get to the stage where you鈥檙e actually doing it.鈥�
Ms Zealand missed her graduation ceremony due to a prior engagement as coach of the Australian young physics team that recently competed in the International Young Physicist's Tournament China.
鈥淔or me, this tournament summaries what physics should be about: investigating simple phenomenon, constructing experiments, researching the physics, and communicating your understanding of how things in our everyday world work,鈥� she said.
鈥淧hysics is at its essence a search for understanding, and I feel both humbled and privileged to be able to witness and guide the learning and understanding of bright young minds.
鈥淭he team this year came 8th out of approximately 30 countries, a very respectable finish, and we all had a lot of fun, met many interesting people, and did some good physics.鈥�
Ms Zealand was a competitor herself in 2007, where as team captain the Australian team became world champions.
Media: Kathryn Zealand (3346 7953 or 0450367201) or Travis Taylor (07 3365 8598 or t.taylor1@uq.edu.au).
