Alumni

International Earth Science Olympiad: A Launchpad for James Strickland

“I was able to realise how relevant Earth science is for my interests in planetary exploration, which directly affected what I chose to study at university.”

James Strickland discovered the Science Olympiads in Year 11 and, although he wished he had known about them sooner, he seized the opportunity and sat the 2022 Australian Science Olympiad Exams in chemistry, physics, and Earth and environmental science. Ultimately he was selected for the Earth and Environmental Science program following his high achievements in the ASO Exam, and was invited to ASO Summer School in early 2023.

James was then selected for the Australian team who competed in the 2023 International Earth Science Olympiad, which was held online that year, and won a silver medal.

He has since returned as a mentor and tutor at the 2024 and 2025 ASO Summer Schools, supporting the next generation of Earth and Environmental Science Olympiad students.

Whilst James is busy studying for a degree in Aerospace Engineering and Geology, he took some time to chat with us about the impact of Australian Science Innovations on his studies and life, and to share advice for young science enthusiasts.

How did you first learn about ASI programs, and what inspired you to participate?

I was in Year 11 when I first heard about ASI and its programs. I have always been interested in science and engineering and had read on the internet about Science Olympiads in other countries, which I thought was pretty cool. I searched online to find if I could do a similar thing here in Australia, and was very happy to find that ASI offered the Science Olympiads. I was annoyed at the time that I had found out about this so late into my schooling, because I was certain that there was no way that I could make one of the Australian Science Olympiad Teams on my first try.

However, I thought I’d give it a try anyway so I sent an email to my science teacher asking if I could do the exams with a small group of friends who were also into science, just to see what it was like. I did the Physics and Chemistry exams as well alongside Earth and Environmental Science (EES), even though I had very little experience or interest in EES at the time. I certainly became interested after attending summer school! Earth Science is now a huge part of my life.

I highly recommend doing as many exams as you can, especially Earth and Environmental Science, as you might find that you’re quite good at something that you never expected, and you might discover something that you really love doing.

What were your highlights during ASO Summer School? What impact did it have on you?

My biggest highlight (or lowlight, depending on how to look at it) was testing positive COVID during my time at ASO Summer School in January 2023. Only a few EES students got COVID out of the whole summer school cohort, including all disciplines, and I managed to be one of the unlucky few. It happened right before our free day, which is our only day off for the whole two-week summer school, meaning that I missed out on exploring Canberra with all my new friends. I also missed out on Questacon, which I had been looking forward to doing on the free day since before I got to summer school!

However, it turned out alright in the end. Instead of going in person, my friends walked me around Questacon on a video call, showing me all the exhibits, and even purchased some goodies for me at the Questacon gift shop! I was also able to spend the day catching up on sleep and revising the content that I had struggled with during the week prior.

This was really impactful for me as it showed me that even the most ill-timed and frustrating circumstances can turn out right in the end. Surrounding yourself with good friends and people who care is really important to manage all that life will throw at you, and summer school is one of the best places to make really good friends for life. It’s a popular NASA saying that “failure is not an option”.

Facing a tough situation like this is just another problem to solve, and you can always work the problem to end up with a positive outcome in the end.

How have ASI programs influenced your personal or professional growth?

I certainly would not be doing what I am today at all if not for ASI and the EES Olympiad. Before my summer school, I didn’t really have much interest in earth and environmental science or geology, and I thought that it was quite boring. When I did the entrance exams, I did Physics, Chemistry, and EES, and I was certain that I would perform the worst in EES. I didn’t feel like I knew what I was doing at all, but just did it for the sake of it. Thus, I was completely surprised to be offered a spot at the EES Olympiad summer school despite my complete lack of prior experience.

Going to summer school really changed things a lot for me. There, I got to sit alongside students just like me who wanted to nerd out about all things science. I developed skills to see things in the world around me that no-one else would notice. I gained the ability to truly appreciate the natural world for what it has to offer, finding the beauty and the science in everything around me. I learned that it is okay to be completely passionate about things that most people find uninteresting.

I was able to realise how relevant Earth science is for my interests in planetary exploration, which directly affected what I chose to study at university.

Summer school helped me develop much more as a person and as a scientist than I ever would have by myself, and it happened in a way that didn’t force me to give up my lifelong ambitions but rather support and reinforce them.

This has gone on to open doors to opportunity that would have otherwise been firmly closed to me. For example, in only my first year at university, I managed to secure a paid job doing research within the USYD School of Geosciences. I have also been able to join the committee of the Geological Society of Australia NSW Division, assisting in directing Earth Science into the future. And, most importantly, my love for the Earth and geosciences that I gained through experiences with the Olympiad allowed me to make so many of my closest and most cherished friends.

I couldn’t even imagine any of these things if it was not for programs like ASO Summer School, and I owe a lot of what I am today to ASI.

Did anyone in ASI inspire you? Who was that, and how were they inspirational?

I’ve certainly let them know this many times by now, but Dr. Leslie Almberg (current EES Program Director) and Greg McNamara (former EES Program Director, recently retired) are probably the most inspirational and influential people that I have had the pleasure of knowing. To learn from them is a transformative experience I wish every student could have. I’m very proud to have learned from them as a student, and then later worked with them as a mentor.

Leslie is simply an awesome human being. Her academic expertise is primarily in volcanology, although you’ll quickly realise that there are few things that she isn’t extraordinarily and passionately knowledgeable about. She has a fantastic sense of humour and an admirable ability to make you feel completely comfortable to be yourself. She is a huge advocate for neurodivergent students, being neurodivergent herself, and helped me to feel comfortable and open about my neurodivergence. I’m so glad to work with her now in her new position as Program Director after so many years of service as Deputy Program Director; there is no-one better suited for the position.

Greg is exactly who I imagine when I hear the word “wizard”. I’m continually amazed by his wisdom and knowledge, which is the result of a long and prosperous career in earth science education. He has been hugely influential for science students across the country, as he played a key role in including earth science in the national science curriculum, and is the reason that the Earth Science Olympiad exists in Australia at all. I hope he enjoys his well-earned retirement

The combined teaching and research experience shared by Greg and Leslie has formed them into the incredible educators, leaders, and scientists that they are today. They have inspired me and many others to love the Earth and to share that love with the world, regardless of one’s path through life and education. They are empathetic and outstanding people that have positively changed who I am as a person. To them, I owe the world.

What is your favorite ASI experience?

Being a mentor and teacher at summer school is my favourite ASI experience, and is always a highlight of my year. I have returned to ASO Summer School for both of the years (2024 & 2025) since I graduated high school, and each time I go back it’s awesome to be able to share my knowledge with the students and give them a memorable experience.

I love how I am able to take charge of teaching things that I’m really passionate about, for example at the last summer school where I got to be the lead teacher for our Planetary Science unit, guiding the students to explore the solar system through the perspective of rigorous science. It’s also such an honour to be able to work with the top science students in Australia. I know that these young people will go on to do amazing things someday, and it’s really rewarding to know that I am able to do some small part in helping them get there.

Watch the short video (on Instagram or YouTube Shorts) where James tells us what he enjoys about teaching at Summer School.

What has been your most memorable highlight recently?

I recently got to launch a rocket that I’ve been working on for over a year! I have part of the USYD Rocketry Team since I started university last year, and we design rockets and rocket engines, although I work on ground systems for the team. Recently, we travelled to far western NSW to launch our Pardalote hybrid rocket for the first time, which was a really amazing thing to see after spending so much time working on it over the past year and a bit. Also, our rocket travelled to the USA recently to compete in a major international competition, and we won!

My time working in Rocketry has been very memorable and I would definitely recommend all university students to get involved with the team from their university if they can. It’s also a great way for younger people to get interested in science; have a look to see if there is a model rocketry club near you!

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Is your current study and professional field related to that early ambition?

When I was younger, I dreamed of being an astronaut, getting to explore space and live on a planet or moon in our solar system. Right now, I am studying Aerospace Engineering and Geology at the University of Sydney, so that dream is still very much alive.

For any students with similar ambitions to me, or is just interested in space in general, I highly recommend trying out the EES Olympiad.

Earth science and geology is highly relevant to space exploration, and many of the astronauts who next visit the Moon, Mars, and beyond will need to be geologists and earth scientists who can understand what they are looking at on these cosmic surfaces.

In fact, geologist Harrison Schmitt was the last person to walk on the Moon, and the only one of the 12 moon walkers that was not a military pilot. Astronauts who are preparing right now for future Moon and Mars missions are learning earth science as an important part of their training. Getting started with the Earth and Environmental Science Olympiad could be your key to getting involved in space exploration!

Once I finish my degree, I hope to study Planetary Science (which is essentially geology, but applied to studying other planets and moons) at the postgraduate level and continue following my dream of exploring space, and hopefully one day I’ll actually be able to go there myself.

Do you still keep in touch with anyone from your ASO Summer School or Olympiad teams?

Yes, definitely! I met some of my current closest friends at summer school, and I’m connected with many of my friends from summer school on social media, where I regularly keep in touch with them. It’s really cool to see what everyone is up do these days, and to celebrate all of the awesome things that they are continuing to achieve after summer school.

Many of my summer school friends ended up attending ANU for university, which is really convenient for me, as I live in Sydney and can take a short drive to go and visit. In fact, I drove to Canberra just the other week to visit some of my summer school friends, and timed my trip so I could also celebrate at the Olympiad Team Announcement Ceremony at Parliament House.

Being a mentor at summer school is also another way that I keep in touch with my summer school friends, as many of them also come back to help as mentors. It’s just like being back at summer school with your friends again, and with none of the stress of being a student. Although, there is an added stress of dealing with 24 teenagers for 2 weeks!

Above photo and featured image: James at the 2024 ASO Summer School as a mentor/ tutor for Earth and Environmental Science cohort.