It is unbelievable to think this time next week I will be on another continent, immersed in a foreign culture and involved in cutting edge research in Malaysia.

I am incredibly grateful to be one of two students in receipt of a New Colombo Plan Mobility grant sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), allowing me to complete a three week program at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences at The University of Malaya (UM) in Kuala Lumpur. I will be completing a project on network theory and investigating science policy and innovation through the Malaysian Academy of Science.

Having recently completed my first year of university I did not expect the opportunity to travel overseas so early in my degree. I am completing a Bachelor of Science (HAPs) majoring in molecular biology and biochemistry as well as a Bachelor of Science majoring in mathematics.  The opportunity to work with network theory is particularly exciting with recent developments with gene regulatory networks and protein interactions. I will be supervised by Professor Kuru Ratnatvalu who has applied concepts of network theory to social networks, building character networks of science fiction works such as Star Trek and Stargate.

Travelling overseas offers the opportunity to try new food and make friends whilst living away from Australia. I hope to build connections with researchers and deepen my understanding of mathematics whilst enjoying the culture by spending my free time visiting markets, temples, beaches and scenic sights to create lifelong memories.

Susanna Grigson, Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Enhanced Program for High Achievers)/Bachelor of Science student, participating in “Science, Science Policy, Technology and Innovation in Malaysia” at University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia, funded by the New Colombo Plan in January 2018