A Dubbo College year 12 student was recently part of an elite science research program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States.
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Elijah Stanger-Jones, 17, was one of 80 of the world's most accomplished school students who were selected to join the MIT's Research Science Institute (RSI), an intensive six-week research program.
The RSI is the first science and engineering program to combine on-campus work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research.
Elijah, who aims to study mechatronics in the future, said the MIT program was an amazing and highly challenging experience.
"Our lecturers were usually MIT alumni but we also had the privilege of hearing from Nobel laureates like German physicist Wolfgang Ketterle," he said.
"The chief of security from Microsoft, Brian LaMacchia, also addressed us, so we had access to highly regarded scientists.
"The heart of the program though was an intensive five-week research internship where we conducted individual projects under the watchful eye of experienced researchers.
"In the final week we had to prepare and deliver written and oral presentations on our work."
Elijah's research project was completed in the Space Systems Laboratory at MIT. His research paper focused on aspects of the International Space Station; in particular a robotic arm attached to a set of micro satellites called SPHERES.
"These SPHERES are used for testing algorithms for control of satellite movement," Elijah said.
"But because these robotic arms are not fixed to a large mass, whenever they reach for an object the momentum causes the entire satellite to move, with the arm then missing its target.
"I was endeavouring to solve this problem by detailing a way to calculate and compensate for this movement, enabling accurate use of the robotic arm.
"The research I did was some of the most challenging work I've ever undertaken.
"On top of this, I had the opportunity to spend time with 84 like-minded students passionate about science and engineering.
"These were some of the most brilliant people I've ever had the privilege of meeting and I truly made some life-long friends."
Elijah now joins his Dubbo College year 12 colleagues who begin the 2015 Higher School Certificate exams from Tuesday.