Twenty Tongan students made academic presentations this week as a lead up to the Tonga Research Association Conference that opens on July 13 at the Tonga National Centre, Tofoa.

The first Tonga Higher Education Presentations and Community Forums, were held on July 11-12..

The Tonga Research Association President Rev Dr 'Asinate Samate said the presentations were initiated to encourage the future generation of Tonga to take up research as it is an integral part of their studies as well as a career option as academics. Participating students came from Secondary High Schools and Institutes of Education in Tongatapu.

The students wrote about the Effects of Changing Lifestyle on the Environment; the Importance of Education and Training; on Healthy Living and Holistic Lifestyle; and Tongan Studies and Cultural Heritage.

A Tonga College Form Six student, Maeakafa Tu'inukuafe made a physics presentation titled "Physical Concept associated with the Bicycle." He concluded by recommending the use of bicycle more in Tonga, as it is healthy and creates little pollution.

Other papers covered topics such as Effects of Climate Change in the Pacific, E-waste; Road Safety is everyone's business, the History of the Wesleyan Church and "How Did Taufa'ahau use Christianity to unite Tonga?".

TRA's conference is held every two years with venues alternating between Tonga and overseas and is an opportunity for scholars to share knowledge on a wide range of issued related to Tonga and its people.

The main conference opens tomorrow Wednesday July 13 with the guest of honour Hon Frederica Tuita. The Tongatapu People's Representative Dr Sitiveni Halapua is the keynote speaker.

At 9:15 am Wednesday the TRA will launch its new book called "Tonga - Land, Sea, People", a collection of 19 papers on Tongan Reasearch, that were presented at earlier conferences.