Otago Boys' High School pupil Nic Sinnott (17) is one of nine secondary school pupils from around New Zealand, selected by Royal Society Te Aparangi to attend the Youth Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (Anzaas) international forum in Melbourne.
Every year, pupils from around Australia and New Zealand are selected to participate in science activities and experiences.
During this year's week-long event, delegates will visit the Department of Defence Research, RMIT and the University of Melbourne, with behind the scenes tours of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and the Melbourne Museum.
Nic wants to forge a career in science research, and said the visit would be inspirational. He planned to study biomedicine or biochemistry at the University of Otago next year, and believed the trip would help push him closer to achieving his "life-long dream of working in science research".
"I'm big on goals.
"I love to set myself challenges in all things - whether it's a small personal goal or trying to get excellence in all of my internal exams.
"I thrive on being challenged, so I put my hand up for almost everything that comes my way."
Royal Society Te Aparangi received more than 150 applications from New Zealand pupils for the trip.
Chief executive Andrew Cleland said Youth Anzaas was not only a great opportunity for talented young New Zealanders to interact with experts at the top of their fields in science, it was also an occasion for outstanding science pupils to meet other like-minded pupils from around Australia and New Zealand.
Youth Anzaas begins on July 8.
