Natasha Barnes, a 23-year old from Christchurch, aims to change the world with the help of the Quest for Excellence Scholarship.
With an Honours degree in Diplomacy and International Relations, Natasha is currently studying for a Masters of Arts in Political Science at the University of Canterbury. She wants to bring about positive change in the world to make it a safer, more accessible place and this made her stand out as an exceptional candidate.
Having always been interested in international governance and security issues, Natasha will write her thesis on the diplomatic strategies employed by middle power states – such as Canada, Japan, Norway and New Zealand - as leaders in the field of disarmament.
“I believe we can ensure our world’s safety without excessive military spending and with greater multilateral cooperation it would be possible to ban specific types of weapons which create horrific humanitarian consequences. Land mines, cluster munitions, chemical and biological weapons have destroyed many lives. Nuclear weapons are very much still a huge threat and it is a massive challenge to strive for complete disarmament but I hope to play a part in making this a reality.”
Natasha would like ‘real world’ experience in the diplomatic field before returning to university to complete a Ph.D with a view to lecturing in her chosen field.
Natasha also communicates political messages through her art which she intends to exhibit next year. Her paintings and sketches are based upon the social and political issues – often contentious – covering such issues as west versus middle eastern perceptions of fashion/beauty such as emaciated models vs women in burqas; or revolutionaries such as Che Guevara and their political causes.
“I see art as a cross-cultural and often easily accessible way to communicate ideas. Political issues, particularly disarmament issues should be a central part of contemporary public dialogue and I feel I have something to contribute,” says Natasha.
Natasha was four when a trip to the doctor uncovered her hearing loss, possibly caused by an ear infection. She spent her childhood struggling to hear but ignored the issue.
“Because I was so stubborn I refused to wear hearing aids. It meant I had to work a lot harder to hear, understand and make sure that I did not miss out on anything which was tiring and often embarrassing. A lot of people thought I was just ‘a bit blond’.
It wasn’t until Natasha reached university that she realised large lecture theatres, conferences and presentations were a real issue and she couldn’t afford to miss out on anything. She finally relented and was fitted with hearing aids.
“My hearing aids have been fantastic. Everything is a lot sharper and clearer. It has made my life easier.”
Natasha plans to use the $15,000 scholarship to help pay course fees as well as contribute towards a research trip to interview policy makers in Canada, Japan and Norway.
“I am thrilled to be the recipient of the Quest for Excellence Scholarship. It will really help to open a lot of doors in terms of enabling me to meet key people face to face and add depth to my research,” concluded Natasha.
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