Australia’s newest batch of Olympiad stars will be announced on Monday 19 June at Australian Parliament House – and every one of them is still in high school.

Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ed Husic MP, will announce the names of 21 of the nation’s brightest young scientists who are limbering up to compete in the International Science Olympiads over the next few months.

Representing 21 schools from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, the high school students will compete in Olympiad events across disciplines including biology, chemistry, earth science and physics. They’ll pit their skills against more than 1,010 students from 102 nations across the globe.

To win a coveted spot representing Australia in the world’s toughest science competitions for students, the young competitors took part in a rigorous qualifying process including extension programs and exams run by not-for-profit organisation Australian Science Innovations (ASI).

This year’s Olympiad stars include Jason Dunn from Sydney Science College who will represent Australia in the International Biology Olympiad in the United Arab Emirates. Jason’s sister Manjekah competed for Australia in the same event in the 2014 International Science Olympiads.

Starters from regional Australia include International Biology Olympiad competitor Alex Park from Victoria’s Werribee High School and International Earth Science Olympiad team member Sydney Richter from Cairns State High School.

Three of the students who have won a place on the Australian Olympiad science teams have progressed through the Junior Science Olympiads, a feeder program into the senior competitions launched in 2020.

“The Junior Science Olympiads provides a new avenue for us to capture the attention of our most talented students at a young age and nurture their skills and enthusiasm. We’re not only creating a pipeline of Olympiad stars but helping secure Australia’s future by identifying, encouraging and supporting those who may go on to become our leading scientists and problem solvers,” Australian
Science Innovations Chair Anna Davis said.

“Good science is central to solving every social and economic issue we face today. Among this year’s Olympiad competitors are students who’ve told us they want to cure Alzheimer’s Disease, solve clean energy and climate tech challenges, promote ocean and Antarctic health and explore the intersection of engineering and space. They’re an amazing bunch of individuals and every one of them deserves their place on the Olympiad team. We can’t wait to celebrate their success.”

International Biology Olympiad team

Competing in the United Arab Emirates, 3-11 July 2023

Jason Dunn	NSW	Sydney Science College
James Johnson	VIC	Haileybury College
Angus Kiang	NSW	Smith’s Hill High School
Jonghyeon (Alex) Park	VIC	Werribee Secondary College

 

International Chemistry Olympiad team

Competing in Switzerland, 16-25 July

George Chen	NSW	Shore School
Kevin Lin	NSW	Knox Grammar School
Hanlin (James) Liu	NSW	Sydney Grammar School
Bobby Wu	NSW	Normanhurst Boys School

 

International Earth Science Olympiad team

Competing online, 20-26 August 2023

David Brown	TAS	Launceston Christian School
Seth Cahill	NSW	Chatswood High School
James Ferry	NSW	St Aloysius’ College
Henry Morgan	ACT	Brindabella Christian College
Sydney Richter	QLD	Cairns State High School
James Strickland	NSW	St Aloysius’ College
Penny Tassicker	TAS	Marist Regional College
Cathy Zhang	NSW	James Ruse Agricultural High School

 

International Physics Olympiad team

Competing in Japan, 10-17 July 2023

Kelvin Chan	QLD	QLD Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology
Liam Chen	VIC	Scotch College
Susan He	NSW	James Ruse Agricultural High School
Douglas Joshi	VIC	Balwyn High School
Alastair Murphy	VIC	Trinity Grammar School Kew

 

Congratulations to all students who have made the teams. We wish them all the best as they represent Australia at the 2023 International Science Olympiads.