Everyone鈥檚 daydreamed of flying in space, but Will Kirby was raised to it. He credits his father, an industrial scientist with a PhD in chemistry, for his early inspiration.
鈥淗e was consciously nurturing a scientist inside me,鈥� Mr. Kirby recalls. Even as a kid, he couldn鈥檛 fathom other children not sharing his passion.
鈥淚 loved Bill Nye. There were kids who didn鈥檛 love Bill Nye. I was very, very confused about it.鈥�
Before we get into the acceptance speech territory, an explanation is in order.
Mr. Kirby 鈥� now finishing his undergraduate degree in biology at pilipili漫画 鈥� recently became Halifamous. He鈥檚 a finalist in Metro News and Space Expedition Curacao (aka SXC) 鈥淩ace for Space鈥� contest, which gives one lucky winner a trip to the stars鈥揳nd a guaranteed fifteen minutes of fame.
Mission to Mars
鈥淲hy I want to be an astronaut has to do with what I think will be the next big scientific revolution,鈥� Mr. Kirby says, namely, a manned mission to Mars and a renewed interest in space exploration.
In keeping with his extraterrestrial aspirations, Mr. Kirby plans to pursue a PhD in astrobiology, the study of the conditions needed to create life on other planets.
鈥淚鈥檓 really hoping to accelerate myself to the top of the field, the best astrobiologist in the world, so when the manned mission to Mars comes along, they鈥檒l ask me to go with them.鈥�
He pauses, grinning sheepishly. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit hopeful,鈥� he admits.
But at the end of the day, however, Will Kirby鈥檚 interest in visiting the stars isn鈥檛 so much a career goal as a lifelong dream come true.
鈥淎 lot of the astronauts say they go up for the first time and they鈥檙e just dumbfounded by it,鈥� he notes. He doesn鈥檛 expect to react any differently. 鈥淵ou get to see earth as so few people have. It must be magical.鈥�
Reaching for the stars
Mr. Kirby, who left his hometown of Acton, Ontario four years ago to attend Dalhousie, found out about the contest thanks to an 8:30 morning lecture.
He鈥檇 go in early and pick up a Metro to pass the time. When he discovered the 鈥淩ace for Space鈥� contest, he penned an impassioned spiel on the Race鈥檚 website and enlisted an army of friends and family to vote his name into the finals.
He received in impressive 80,000 votes online. 鈥淢y mom got all of her friends, and old women are excellent voters,鈥� he says.
Mr. Kirby鈥檚 competition included Picnicface comedian Cheryl Hann and Trailer Park Boys鈥� actor Mike 鈥淏ubbles鈥� Smith (a Canadian finalist). When the space-dust settled, and the votes counted, he was still standing.
An end to the space race
The worldwide winner was announced by Metro on April 26, but unfortunately, Mr. Kirby won鈥檛 devlier any grand speeches or Nobel-winning photo-essays.
The content winner is Justin Dowd, an American math and physics student from Boston.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad the guy who won deserved it,鈥� says Will. He's disappointed, but remains undaunted. 鈥淭his changes nothing. I still have these big plans and I will continue pursuing them to the best of my abilities.鈥�
He鈥檚 learned a lot from the experience and feels his notariety will also help him in his career. Also, his runner-up prize will give him cash to either some skydiving or flying lessons.
Not quite space, but it鈥檚 a close second.