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Wellington architect, Rana Abboud, is the recipient of a 2005 Fulbright graduate award to carry out post-graduate study in America. The awards, valued at US$15,000 each, plus return travel to the US, are for promising graduate students who show academic excellence, leadership potential and the ability to be cultural ambassadors for New Zealand. Rana will pursue a Masters of Architecture at the University of California at Berkeley where she will explore the impact of virtual reality technologies on architectural design. "The internet has gradually incorporated more and more visual graphics - the shift from a text-based medium to a virtual 'environment' where information is located is slowly becoming a reality," says Rana. "This will have an impact on the design of built architecture and its perception in society. I am interested in the implications of these future online environments on architectural design." Rana has a Bachelor of Architecture from Victoria University. Her long-term goal is to practise as a design architect in New Zealand, while tutoring in architectural design at tertiary level. "I hope to use the knowledge gained from my Masters study in my future career as an architect and academic to help bridge New Zealand's geographical isolation from the rest of the world." Rana is currently a Research Assistant at Victoria University's Architecture School working on the Sustainable Residential Building Manual project commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment. She was previously a full-time architecture tutor at the School and 3d graphics animator for Terralink International. In 2006, up to 20 Fulbright graduate awards, each valued at US$25,000 plus return travel to the US, will be offered. Awards are granted for advanced academic study in the US. The closing date for applications is 1 October 2005. For further details visit www.fulbright.org.nz ENDS
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