MY Camper Menna Sirola: Science can solve global problems
17-year-old MY Camper Menna Sirola hopes that her interest in biology and biotechnology will give her the opportunity to help people in the future.
Menna is from the municipality of Kempele in Northwestern Finland. She is a second year high school student in the neighbouring city of Oulu.
Menna first heard about My Camp at school, where the student counsellor had put up a notification about the camp. Later she was encouraged to apply by her biology teacher.
“The camp sounded interesting, and I though that this could be my chance to show what I got. I hope that I’ll learn more about science and technology, and expect that my career plan will clear up.”
In addition to acquiring new information, Menna hopes to make new friends as well. She is part of the Water team. With a little help from her biology teacher, she came up with the subject for her project that combines natural and social sciences.
“My project is about purifying water, and increasing the availability of clean water in Ethiopia. In practice this means collecting rainwater, and purifying flood water. I think that with science you can solve various global problems, and change the world.”
Science is Menna’s passion, biology in particular. She describes herself as an active person, and finds time for her other interests as well. Her hobbies include riding, reading, watching films and documentaries, and just spending time with her friends in cafés. She is also an active member in her congregation.
After high school she plans on applying for university, and majoring in biology with other natural sciences as her minor subjects.
“I am very interested in studying abroad, but my plans for the future are not exactly clear yet, so I’m quite open for possibilities.”
Link: Millennium Youth Camp
Document: Menna´s plan for MY Camp (pdf)
Elisa Lautala works as web editor for University of Helsinki's Faculty of Science. Elisa likes all kinds of cultural events, good books, warm weather, and aqua-jogging.