27 May 2009
Monash University will support 13 senior high school students as they take on the world's best scientific brains in their quest for Olympic gold at the 2009 International Science Olympiads in July.
The Australian team of Year 11 and 12 students, selected from a summer training program at Monash, will go head-to-head with hundreds of students from all over the world in biology, chemistry and physics competitions in Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
As a major sponsor of the Australian Science Olympiads program, Monash hosted 56 entrants from around the country through the month of January. The students attended classes at the Clayton campus for two weeks, completing an entire first year university science course, including lab work, lectures and exams in the student's chosen speciality areas of biology, chemistry or physics.
The final team of 13 was announced this week in Canberra and their participation in the international competition will be managed by Australian Science Innovations (ASI), a national organisation dedicated to enhancing the capability of Australia's science students.
Monash Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker, together with the heads of the Schools of Biological Sciences and Physics and the faculty manager of Science, attended the formal induction ceremony for the team at Parliament House in Canberra on 27 May.
Professor Shoemaker congratulated the team and wished them the best of luck in their efforts to improve on last year's tally of two gold, six silver and four bronze medals.
"The Australian Science Olympiad program represents a pinnacle of achievement for young Australians. It also opens up unparalleled future research career opportunities," Professor Shoemaker said.
"We see science education and research as vital to the future growth of this country. As a key element of the Monash Passport, we support enhancement studies for pre-tertiary students through contact with exemplary teachers and mentors. We look forward very much to hosting the program again next year."
The Australian team members for the International Science Olympiads are:
Biology -- Tsukuba, Japan 12-19 July 2009
VIC: Mr Mel Chen, Brighton Grammar School; Mr Kristijan Jovanoski, Melbourne HS.
NSW: James Woodmansey, Sydney Grammar School; Mr Thomas Brereton, North Sydney Boys HS.
Chemistry -- Cambridge, UK 18-27 July 2009
NSW: Mr Fangzhi Jia, Northern Beaches SC; Kelvin Cheung, James Ruse Agricultural HS.
WA: Jason Kong, Christ Church Grammar School.
VIC: Bill Huang, Melbourne HS.
Physics -- Merida, Mexico 11-20 July 2009
SA: Cathryn McDonald, Immanuel College.
NSW: Fiona Naughton, North Sydney Girls' HS; Christopher Herron, Gosford HS; Thomas Lacy, Sydney Grammar School.
WA: Mr Robert Holt, Christ Church Grammar School
For more information, contact Shaunnagh O'Loughlin, Media and Communications on +61 3 9903 4843 or +61 448 574 148.
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