To Florida on a Fulbright
29 June 2016
A University of Waikato electronic engineering student is heading to Florida next month where he’ll spend a year researching aspects of light.
Harrisson Jull is the recipient of a Fulbright Science and Innovation Graduate Award and will spend his time at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.
“I chose Nova because of its strength in my area of research,” Harrisson says. Currently in the fourth year of his PhD, Harrisson is studying laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, that is, the use of light and laser emissions to study different materials. In Harrisson’s case, the material is grass and he’s using light to analyse plasma on the surface of grass, which tells him what kind of nutrients are in it.
“Long-term, this research is important for the agricultural sector, in precision agriculture, particularly for fertiliser application. It could mean there’s a lot less waste and more targeted application, as well as reducing environmental side effects from over fertilisation.”
Harrisson will delay writing up his doctoral thesis until he returns to New Zealand, and sees the $25,000 Fulbright scholarship as a way to extend his overall knowledge in his area of expertise while learning about another culture.
“Nova staff have been supportive of my application to go there, and they have good equipment. I’ll be working on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy system applied to an agricultural robot. The robot will be used to make spatial measurements of a field, giving site-specific nutrient information.
“I’ve also heard there’s a laser and plasma lab near the university, and that could be good for me to visit too.”
Harrisson is still sorting out some of the details of his Fulbright year, hoping he’ll be able to live on campus in graduate accommodation while he’s away in order to keep costs down.
The Fulbright programme promotes international goodwill and mutual understanding between New Zealand and the United States through educational and cultural exchange.
There is a range of scholarships and awards offered to New Zealand and American academics, artists and professionals to research, teach, present their work and gain practical experience in each other’s countries. The awards include airfares, a basic health benefit plan and programme support. Grantees are selected on the basis of academic excellence, leadership potential and ambassadorial qualities.
As a recipient of a Fulbright Science and Innovation Graduate Award, Harrisson’s research is required to target growth and innovation in New Zealand.