Victoria student heading to Oxford with a Woolf Fisher Scholarship

Victoria University Master of Science student Peter Clark has been awarded a prestigious Woolf Fisher Scholarship, enabling him to study at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

Only three scholarships for university students are awarded annually, each worth close to $100,000 per annum for three to four years.

In Oxford, Peter intends to continue his studies in chemistry, looking at the complex field of multi component domino reactions—combining three or more compounds in a single reaction, as opposed to the traditional two. This process reduces chemical waste and improves efficiency. He hopes that in the long-term shorter syntheses will deliver more affordable pharmaceutical drugs for patients.

"This field of science is considered green chemistry as it explores more efficient methods to create pharmaceuticals. Hopefully, one day it will help put New Zealand on the map as a centre of discovery and technology," says Peter.

"As a kid, I was captivated by jigsaw puzzles and I think why I love chemistry so much is because like a jigsaw, I’m bringing pieces together to achieve a result," says the high-achieving 22-year-old.

His supervisor in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Dr Rob Keyzers, says that Peter is a very worthy recipient.

"Peter’s an incredibly bright and motivated student and this will be a fantastic stepping stone for his future career. We’re all delighted for him and I know that he will do Victoria and New Zealand proud overseas."

Scholars were selected for their outstanding academic and potential leadership abilities. The Woolf Fisher Trust trustees selected recipients who possess many of the qualities admired by the late Sir Woolf Fisher, co-founder of Fisher & Paykel— integrity, kindness and generosity, leadership, boldness of vision and exceptional zeal, keenness and capacity for work.

Sir Noel Robinson, the Trust’s chairman, says this year’s shortlist reflects an outstanding calibre of scholars.

"The quality of our candidates is just so high now. All three students could become world leaders in their own right."