Student Achievements in Science Competitions 2024

The Australian Science Olympiads are a national enrichment program for secondary Science students. The programs are facilitated by Australian Science Innovations, which provide rewarding opportunities for students to extend themselves well beyond school Science through challenging exams, stimulating extensions and enrichment programs, and international competitions.

In 2024, BGGS students participated in the Science Olympiad exams in Physics, Biology, and Chemistry (up to Year 11) and the Junior Science Olympiad exams (Years 7 and 8 exam and Years 9 and 10 exam).

Notable Achievements are as follows:

Physics Olympiad exam

• High Distinction: Grace Gong (11O)
• Distinction: Cass Chan (11M) and Anna Hodge (10L)

Chemistry Olympiad exam 

• High Distinction: Saathvika Maturu (11H)
• Distinction: Rebecca Chen (11W), Grace Gong (11M), Emily Jiang (11B) and Stephanie Ku (11B)

Biology Olympiad exam

• High Distinction: Neve McNab (11B)
• Distinction: Leni Kruger (11E), Emily Kua (11G), Zarli Min (11H) and Sameera Prasad (11W)

Junior Science Olympiad exam (JSO)—Year 7 and 8 Exam

• High Distinction: Vera Blumhardt (8G) and Ava Wu (8H)
• Distinction: Abby Carter (8E), Olivia Chen (7O), Rayna Chow (8W), Luccia Granger (8E), Laura Harcourt (8L) and Charlotte Liang (8M)

Junior Science Olympiad exam (JSO)—Year 9 and 10 Exam

• High Distinction: Megan Baek (10E), Jiya Dhanani (10L), Astrid Selwa (10G), Clara Yang (10B) and Cindy Zhang (10L)
• Distinction: Anna Hodge (10L), Sihan Huang (10O), Minuli Ilangamage (9H), Qiwen Mo (9O), Holly Pryor (10O), Sybella Swindells (10O), Angelina Tang (9O), Claudia Wallwork (10M), Angelina Zeng (10MB) and Miranda Zhang (9M)

Australian Science Olympiad Summer School 2024

Each year, Australian Science Innovations invite 24 of the top performing students in each Australian Science Olympiad Exam (Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, and Physics) to the Australian National University for two weeks of accelerated hands-on learning at the Australian Science Olympiad Summer Schools. Exams during this period, and in the months following, form the basis for selection into Australian Teams to compete internationally.

Following their performances in the Science Olympiad Exams in 2023, Kathryn Petersen (12O) and Emma Wong (12W) attended the 2024 Australian Science Olympiad Summer Schools for Biology and Physics respectively.

Kathryn was consequentially selected as part of the four-member Australian Team that competed in the International Biology Olympiad in Astana, Kazakhstan. Kathryn’s outstanding performance at this highly-regarded competition resulted in her being awarded a Gold Medal, one of only 30 worldwide.

Emma was selected as part of the eight-member Australian Team who competed in the Asian Physics Olympiad in Perak, Malaysia.

For their achievements, Kathryn and Emma were awarded academic Blues.

Junior Science Olympiad exam: second round

Following completion of the Junior Science Olympiad (JSO) exams, high-achieving eligible students are selected to participate in an additional training program to further their skills and knowledge in science.

Based on her performance in the JSO exam, Astrid Selwa (10G) was selected to participate in the JSO second round and performed to a very high standard.

The International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT) is a scientific competition between teams of secondary school students. It mimics, as close as possible, real-world scientific research and the process of presenting and defending the results obtained. Participants work on open-ended inquiry problems and present and discuss their findings with their peers in a tournament judged by expert panels of jurors.

The IYPT Australia Challenge is held each year as a selection tournament for IYPT.

From this event, Lauren Liang (11W) was selected as a reserve member of the Australian Team for the 2024 International Young Physicists’ Tournament.

The Junior Young Physicists’ Tournament (JYPT) is similar to the IYPT but designed for students up to Year 10. Teams across Australia and New Zealand participated in JYPT 2024, hosted by Brisbane Girls Grammar School.

BGGS entered two teams and achieved the following results:

• Third place (Silver Award): BGGS White (Einstein)—Lucy Petersen (9B) (Captain), Soumya Brahmbhatt (9M), Gina Kumar (9H), Qiwen Mo (9O) and Cindy Zhang (10L)
• Sixth place (Bronze Award): BGGS Blue (Rutherford)—Angel Li (10G) (Captain), Minuli Ilangamage (9H), Aurora Lin (9B), Ayana Mukherjee (9B) and Grace Zhao (9L)

Run by the Science Teachers’ Association of Queensland (STAQ), the Queensland Science Contest is an opportunity for Queensland students from Prep to Year 12 to have their scientific work judged.

A group project by Elsie Butler (12B), Freya Pearn (12H) and Emma Wong (12W) achieved first place in Division 7 (Years 11 and 12) of the Science Communication section for their Physics themed point-and-click adventure game. This award is accompanied by a prize of $250.

The Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Titration Competition is designed to encourage secondary students who enjoy Chemistry, particularly the practical side, to develop their scientific skills and understanding.

RACI Queensland Titration Competition notable results:

• High Distinction: Rebecca Chen (11W), Charlotte Clayton (12B), Sunnie Lin (11M), Farrah Gresham (11W) and Eva Nykiel (12R)
• Distinction: Sophie Chambers (11E)

Over 100 teams took part in the competition and the team comprising Charlotte, Rebecca and Eva were awarded first place.