So, off to Malaysia early tomorrow morning. I’m excited about what is to come, a little nervous about setting off to a foreign country alone, but ready to get going. I haven’t been to the country before so I’m a little lost as to what to expect, but I know that I’m going to enjoy my time there.

I’m going as part of the New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant to work in the labs at UKM to produce some titania nanowalls on ITO substrates for use in DSSCs back at Flinders, and I am expecting this to be a fascinating process. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some good results! While I am there I will also be working on producing some AgPt nanoferns for use as catalysts which also intrigues me.

It’s not going to be all work though, I am really looking forward to the cultural aspects of the trip as well, learning more about Malaysia and its people. I’m going at the end of Ramadan, so I expect I’ll be learning just as much outside the lab as I will inside it. I can’t wait to be on my way!

Brodie Parrot, Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Nanotechnology) student attended the National University of Malaysia (UKM) in Malaysia in June-July 2017 under the New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant