Top scholar finds perfect fit at Bath uni

MULTIPLE elite universities flung their doors open wide to Invercargill’s Harri Pickett.

The Southland Girls’ High School pupil was accepted by London’s Imperial College, University College, University of Edinburgh and the University of Bath.

‘‘I’ve chosen Bath as the perfect match for me,’’ Harri said.

The deciding factor came down to the biology degree structure and its work placement scheme.

Her biology degree had broad scope which included genetics and cell biology, and also field-based research opportunities.

‘‘They're really career-focused and skills focused at Bath, compared to just the knowledge.

‘‘There’s three years of the degree on site and then a fourth year . . . [where] they help you to get work placements across the world.

‘‘I don't know exactly what role I'd go into at the end of my degree, but I am still inspired by Dr Jane Goodall and the work that she does, which is in conservation and incorporate scientific communication.

‘‘I’d love to be able to study different ecological networks in the most remote corners of the world for National Geographic . . . and study the biodiversity of different places like Madagascar or Antarctica.’’

Work opportunities could open doors to organisations and companies with international standing, Harri said.

‘‘I do think just going to university in England, it really does kind of set you up on an international level.

‘‘I gained so much from the whole experience — especially learning to connect with the international crowds.’’

She hoped eventually her career would lead to a doctorate that would bring her back to New Zealand shores.

‘‘I am passionate about this gorgeous country that we have and the Southern Antarctic Islands and Fiordland. There’s so much going on that are really relevant to the big issues like climate change.’’

Studying in England had been Harri’s goal since she was 11 years old.

‘‘When I was around that age, I really idolised Dr Jane Goodall — I still do. But I’d heard that she’d gone to Cambridge University, so that inspired me to go down that whole track.’’

Harri attended a medicine programme with Cambridge University in 2022 and the 2023 International Youth Science Forum to follow her dreams.

She credits the people of Southland, who sponsored her 2022 trip, for providing the key to open the doors before her.

‘‘It was very daunting when I first realised that if I wanted to go to Cambridge University for that medicine programme, I really had to put myself out there and kind of just embrace a lot of people helping.

‘‘There’s a lot of really kind people out there in Southland that wanted to support me . . . I'm really reaping the benefits . . . it's been amazing.

Harri said since she first started on her international journey, she had been given a substantial scholarship by an anonymous benefactor that would help her, but she still had to bridge moving expenses and flights.

‘‘It blows my mind, I would never have known that sort of a generosity exists if I hadn’t put myself out there in the first place.

‘‘I’m still a bit short, so I am trying to find funds in other places.’’

Her Buy-Me-A-Coffee crowdfunding page, where people who wanted to support her education had been donating, had remained open since 2022.

‘‘Every little bit made a difference in the past years. On one hand, there are these people with lots of money to give, but even just people that I’d just met briefly are just giving $10 or $5.

The small acts of kindness really added up, Harri said.