What we do My name is Medha Baadkar from Christchurch Girls’ High School.
I’ve always found the brain interesting. There’s something about how our individuality is incredibly complex – so complex that it takes a team of 86 billion neurons to make us who we are.
My love of science stems from a relentless curiosity about the world around me. Competing in the New Zealand Brain Bee was such a rewarding experience, and I’m super excited to compete in the Australasian finals as the South Island representative.
It was exciting to receive the prize of ‘A Day in the Life of a Neuroscientist’ because I’m eager to learn more about the research side of the brain, which gets less press than the clinical side – but is equally interesting!
During our visit to the University of Otago, we explored a neurodegenerative and lysosomal disease laboratory, studied the immunofluorescence of a mouse’s hippocampus, investigated a neurofeedback technique in a neuromodulation laboratory, toured the Eccles Facility, and finished off with some free time exploring the WD Trotter Anatomy Museum.
The entire day was packed with fun, but one highlight was seeing the pathology samples in the anatomy museum – it was incredibly interesting to see these conditions physically. Another highlight was learning about brain cell analysis in the neurodegenerative disease laboratory. Getting to see such advanced imaging techniques and learning about how data analysis is used to interpret these techniques was fascinating.
Five years from now, I hope to be elbow-deep in a medical degree, after which I aspire to combine my passion for research with clinical practice to create a brighter future for health care.
Medha Baadkar, Christchurch Girls’ High School
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