YiJie Selected For Olympiads 2017

Young innovators of future picked for world Science Olympiads

Seventeen of Australia’s best student biologists, chemists, physicists and Earth scientists have made the teams to represent Australia at the UNESCO-sanctioned International Science Olympiads in July and August. They will compete in the world’s toughest science competitions against some of the smartest kids in the world.

YiJie Neo from John Monash Science School is one of the 17 talented young science students selected. YiJie will compete at the International Earth Science Olympiad in France in August. She received her Australian Team blazer at a teams’ announcement ceremony at Parliament House Canberra on 19th June with senator The Hon Arthur Sinodinos, parents, teachers, academics, Olympiad alumni and officials.

YiJie Neo is School Vice Captain at John Monash Science Schools, and an avid musician, recently part of the JMSS band to place second in Division 4.1 at the Mount Gambier Generations in Jazz competition 2017.

YiJie Neo was accepted into the Australian Environmental and Earth Sciences Olympiad Summer Training School at ANU Canberra in January 2017. She was also a Medal Winner in the ICAS English Competition, Senior Division. YiJie also gained High Distinctions and was a Medal Winner in the nationwide Australian Olympiad Biology competition.

YiJie is a member of the JMSS Slam Poetry team, winning the OutLoud Teen Poetry Slam State Finals in 2016. YiJie was part of the four-person JMSS team to win a Distinction (Top 12) at the Singapore International Maths Challenge in 2016.

The Year 11 and 12 students picked to compete this year represent 12 schools from NSW, VIC, QLD and the ACT. They have spent a year in exams and intensive training to make the cut. They outperformed 5,015 other students from more than 300 schools in the qualifying exams, making a shortlist of 93  t to attend a two-week summer school at the Australian National University in preparation for the Olympiads.

The students will test their skills against the world’s best in competitions taking place in England (Biology), Thailand (Chemistry), France (Earth Science) and Indonesia (Physics).

“The Australian Science Olympiads program is future-proofing Australia’s pipeline of problem-solvers, innovators and game changers. It captures the attention of high-achieving students at a critical stage, exposing them to advanced learning at an international level.  For most, it marks the beginning of a successful future in STEM,” says Professor Ian Chubb, former Chief Scientist and Patron of Australian Science Innovations.

Students wanting to challenge themselves at next year’s International Science Olympiads can register for the Australian Science Olympiad Exams by Wednesday 19 July at www.asi.edu.au.

The Australian Science Olympiads program is run by non-profit Australian Science Innovations and funded through the Australian Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda, with support from the Australian National University.

The Australian team members for the International Science Olympiads are:

International Biology Olympiad

20 to 23 July, Coventry, England

Angus Cramond          Year 12           Balwyn High School                                        VIC

Katherine Johnson      Year 12           North Sydney Girls High School                     NSW

Anne Pham                 Year 12           Balwyn High School                                        VIC

Anna Sing                    Year 12           The Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School          VIC

 

International Chemistry Olympiad

6 to 15 July, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Ada Fang                    Year 12           Sydney Girls High School                               NSW

Ivan Hou                     Year 12           James Ruse Agricultural High School            NSW

Brandon Lee               Year 12           Sydney Grammar School                               NSW

Dylan Siow-Lee           Year 12           Sydney Grammar School                               NSW

 

International Physics Olympiad

16 to 24 July, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Bentley Carr                Year 12           Sydney Grammar School                               NSW

Stephen Liu                 Year 12           James Ruse Agricultural High School            NSW

Yuyu Ma                      Year 12           James Ruse Agricultural High School            NSW

Nishka Tapaswi          Year 12           Hornsby Girls’ High School                            NSW

Claire Yung                 Year 12           Narrabundah College                                      ACT

 

International Earth Science Olympiad

22 to 29 August, Côte d’Azur, France

Jemima Jeffree           Year 11           Indooroopilly State High School                      QLD

Joshua Lee                 Year 12           Barker College                                                NSW

YiJie Neo                     Year 12           John Monash Science School                        VIC

Chen Zhou                  Year 12           North Sydney Boys High School                    NSW

 

Learn more about the Australian Science Olympiad Competition at: www.asi.edu.au