Ngaio Fulton

Bachelor of Science in Energy Science and Technology

While Ngaio Fulton already knew that she wanted to study at the University of Otago — especially because of glowing reviews from her siblings and cousins who had attended before her — she had no idea what subject to choose. Mathematics and physics felt far too theoretical, but when she stumbled across the Energy Science and Technology programme, it felt meant to be. “I grew up spending holidays on the Hydro Lakes (Lake Benmore in particular) in the Waitaki Valley,” she says. “The Benmore Dam is an impressive structure, and we would visit the information centre as kids and learn how it creates energy and sends this to homes all around New Zealand.”

Growing up around this gave Fulton a curiosity around energy generation and a love for nature. “My programme sits within the physics department so it includes a lot of the numerical/problem-solving components that I enjoy. It is also very applicable to real life; energy is essential to our existence. I was also interested in the renewable energy and energy efficiency aspect of the course and the opportunity to study something that would contribute towards a low-carbon, sustainable world,” she says.

When asked about her favourite classes, Fulton had quite a list: Renewable Energy Technologies,  Environmental Physics, Carbon and Energy Finance, and Energy Practice. The last was a practical subject with experiential opportunities. 

Today, Fulton is the Renewable Energy Advisor for an energy consultancy company, Elemental Group, where she has been for a year and a half. “My job includes both energy generation projects (supply side) and energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects (demand side),” she says. This year, she spent three weeks in Vanuatu developing a programme that increases energy access and support to the outer island communities — as always, using the skills and knowledge gained at her alma mater.