A shot at representing his country at an international Physics forum is among the honours achieved by Year 11 Science students at The Armidale School in recent weeks.
Ali Ahsan is one of only 25 students nationally to be invited to attend the Australian Science Olympiad Summer School in Physics at Monash University, having earned a Gold Medal in this year’s Australian Science Olympiad examinations.
Ali also earned a Gold Medal in Chemistry, while classmates Tom Mailler gained a Distinction in Chemistry and Felix Giford, a Credit in Physics. The trio attempted either or both Physics and Chemistry papers that contained university-level questions that would challenge most undergraduates. The results put Ali in the top half of one per cent of students studying the two subjects in NSW.
Based on their performance at the two week-long summer school and a follow-up exam, a small number of students are chosen to represent Australia at an International Science Olympiad. The International Physics Olympiad will be in India and the International Chemistry Olympiad in Azabijan.
“It’s pretty cool – I didn’t think I’d done so well and was very surprised,” said Ali, who is considering neurosurgery as a career.
“There are going to be some really smart people at the Olympiad, and I’m really going to enjoy their company. The chance of being selected for the Australian team is one in three, so we’ll just see how that goes.”
Meanwhile in the University of Newcastle Faculty of Science and Science and Information Technology 2014 Year 11 Excellence awards, Felix Gifford won a Highly Commended for high achievement in the areas of Science, Design and Information Technology and Harry Wright, an award for Excellence in Science and Design and gift voucher.
“To be amongst only the top two dozen or so students in the country invited to the summer school in which the equivalent of a first year university course is covered is a magnificent achievement, and I wish Ali well as he prepares to join those attending,” TAS Headmaster Murray Guest said.
Ali Ahsan (top left) has been invited to attend the Australian Science Olympiad Summer School in Physics at Monash University. Classmates Harry Wright (centre), Felix Gifford and Tom Mailler have also achieved awards in the subject.
