A YOUNG Malvern space enthusiast has won the opportunity to study the stars at a top American scientific research centre.

Aidan Parker, 17, a sixth former at Malvern Girls' College, will be the UK's only representative at Boston's world-famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology later this month.

She will spend six weeks researching neutron stars as part of a Research Science Institute project.

The project brings tog-ether 22 international students and 51 Americans, selected by state, with specialist skills in mathematics and science.

Aidan, who lives in Great Malvern, was chosen by the British Association for Science Education after she completed an eight page application form stating her aims in science and her views on scientific research.

She has a keen interest in space, having previously been involved in astro-photography and the construction of rockets and satellites at a space summer school at Brunel University, in West London.

Currently studying for AS levels, she hopes to go to Cambridge to study mathematics, physics, space research and theoretical physics.

While in the States, from June 21 to August 6, the teenager will undertake research and attend lectures in science and the humanities.

She said she couldn't wait for the experience.

"I'm delighted, I couldn't quite believe it when I got the phone call," she said. "It was totally surreal and now it's coming up to it I can't quite believe it's happening.

"It'll be so good to be with other young people interested in the same things as I am."