GOLD TO AUSTRALIA IN THE INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR SCIENCE CHALLENGE
In February , I had the honour of representing Australia in the International Junior Science Challenge ‘ Science Vision ’, a Ukrainian-hosted competition testing our knowledge in biology , physics and chemistry , attended by 10 international teams .
The competition had both an individual theory component as well as a creative team challenge . Over two days , we completed an hour-long multiple-choice paper , a three-hour- long theory paper , as well as a four-hour long practical test ( testing our experimental , theoretical and data analysis skills ).
The material covered was roughly equivalent to the contents of VCE Chemistry 3 / 4 , Biology 3 / 4 , and Physics 3 / 4 . However , the most challenging aspect of the competition was the creative team video production challenge , which sorted the contestants into groups of three , all of whom were from different countries . I was put in a team with a Slovene and a Ukrainian , and although language barriers were an issue , getting to know students from
other countries who were passionate about science was really rewarding .
Overall , the six Australian team members achieved three gold medals and three silver medals , putting us in first place among the competing countries . I was really fortunate to achieve a gold medal for Australia .
The International Junior Science Challenge was created as an online alternative to the International Junior Science Olympiad ( IJSO ), which was intended to be hosted in Kyiv . However , due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine , the IJSO was moved to Bogota , Colombia , with very short notice , and Australia decided against participating due to security and safety concerns .
Australia participated in the IJSO last year hosted by the UAE , and will participate in future IJSOs , such as the 2023 IJSO in Bangkok , Thailand .
WITTER ONGGARA – YEAR 10
We arrived at Ulaanbaatar in the Mongolian People ’ s Republic on 21 May , along with most of the other teams participating in the Asian Physics Olympiad ( APhO ). Surrounded by teams from Korea to Vietnam , we could all pick up a sense of enthusiasm and anticipation for the days ahead .
While we were all there for the APhO , we also had a substantial amount of time to socialise with the other teams . We spent the next one and a half weeks in Mongolia bonding with the other teams , especially the Israeli team , over card games like Set , as well a game of Among Us , somehow . We went to a national park , and climbed a rock that looked like a turtle ( called turtle rock ). We took a photo of the Mongolian mountains that , quote , ‘ should have been a Windows background ’, and then experienced a bus ride on
EYES OPENED TO THE WIDE WORLD OF SCIENCE
a dirt road , an experience not dissimilar to amusement park rides .
The problems we had to solve as part of the Olympiad were really enjoyable too , such as measuring the effects of melting acrylic on diffracting laser light , and calculating the drag the International Space Station experiences from Earth ’ s magnetic field .
Not only did we gain invaluable experience as part of preparing for the APhO , but we also got the chance to make friends from all around the world , and listening to a Nobel prize laureate talk about his work in material sciences really opened our eyes to the wider world of science . I loved the opportunities given to me through the APhO , and I would encourage everyone to take part in future Science Olympiads .
LIAM CHEN – YEAR 11 www . scotch . vic . edu . au Great Scot 39