A newsletter to Young Achievers about Young Achievers
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From the editor – study path of award recipients
It is has been some time since I have had a chance to put a newsletter together but there has been lots happening in the Royal Society over the last month or so and so it is timely that I make some announcements.
Over the last 14 years that I have been working in the education area at the Royal Society I have been fortunate enough to be in contact with lots of talented school students who have been involved in Royal Society programmes. Many of those students have now joined the work force or even have families of their own.
Last year I carried out some research on students dating back to 1999 that had been involved in programmes administered by the Society. Each student was sent a survey to complete. Our objective was to measure if any of the programmes the students had participated in had made an impact on what they studied at tertiary level.
Eighty-two per cent (82%) of the survey respondents indicated that the events and/or programmes they participated in either greatly enhanced or enhanced their choice of tertiary study. Seventeen per cent (17%) of the respondents indicated that participation in events and programmes had no effect on their choice of tertiary study. Generally, comments suggested participants knew what they wanted to study prior to these experiences. It was also very interesting to note that over 85% of these students had gone on to study science at tertiary level which includes medicine, applied sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics and engineering.
If you have any questions please contact Debbie.woodhall@royalsociety.org.nz
Debbie Woodall
Talented School Student Programmes
Students selected for science events
There are many students to congratulate this month on being selected for both international and national science events.
London International Youth Forum and CERN, Geneva
Six students will be attending the London International Youth Science Forum which also includes a visit to CERN, Geneva. How great is that?!
Those students are:
- Gabriella Templer, 17, ACG Parnell College, Auckland
- Rachael Wiltshire, 18, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Wellington
- Andy Chen, 17, Macleans College, Auckland
- Robert Shin, 17, Macleans College, Auckland
- Rachael Love, 17, Takapuna Grammar School, Auckland
- In sung Hwang, 17, Massey High School, Auckland
US International Space Camp
Four students were selected also to attend the US International Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. During their time at the International Space Camp, the New Zealand students will be joined by over 150 like-minded students from 23 different countries.
They will be immersed in a programme that is designed to promote space science and exploration. Activities will include hands-on astronaut training, as well as learning about the mental, emotional and physical demands astronauts must face. Leadership training is also included and the students will experience scuba diving and four G’s of lift-off force and actual weightlessness in the space simulator.
Students selected are:
- Callum Brazier, 16, Paraparaumu College, Kapiti
- Darina Khun, 16, Wellington East Girls’ College
- Connor Hale, 16, Tawa College, Wellington
- Ashlee Parkes, 17, Westlake Girls’ High School, Auckland
Youth ANZAAS, Dunedin
Twenty-two senior secondary school students from New Zealand have been selected by the Royal Society of New Zealand to attend the Youth ANZAAS (Australia New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science) event in Dunedin. They will be joined by 21 secondary school students from around Australia also.
Over the six days the students will be immersed in many science activities and lectures that have been organised in conjunction with the University of Otago and the International Science Festival. They will visit the Anatomy Museum, Department of Zoology; New Zealand Marine Studies Centre and Invermay Agricultural Centre.
They will listen to and participate in workshops on Neuroscience, Genetics and Food Chemistry and hear international scientists such as Dr Alice Roberts and US Astronuaut, Stephanie Wilson give presentations. It will be a very full six days!
Students selected are:
- Tushar Taneja, 17, Botany Downs Secondary College, Auckland
- Apurva Kasture, 17, Palmerston North Girls’ High School
- Jackson Dowie, 17, ACG Senior College, Auckland
- Joyce Wong, 16, Riccarton High School, Christchurch
- Beth Yeung, 17, Rangitoto College, Auckland
- Carlos Smith Diaz, 17, Cashmere High School, Christchurch
- Shanthi Gore, Mt Albert Grammar School, Auckland
- Gomathi Rajasekaran, 17, The Manurewa High School, Auckland
- Lixing Wei, 16, Westlake Girls’ High School, Auckland
- Jenny Cao, 16, St Cuthbert’s College, Auckland
- Kester Rebello, 16, Marcellin College, Auckland
- Richard Ngo, 17, King’s College, Auckland
- Rhiannon Bond, 17, Bethlehem College, Tauranga
- Charles Norton, 16, Nelson College
- Steven Robbie, 17, James Hargest College, Invercargill
- An Ran Chen, 17, Macleans College, Auckland
- Rachel Taylor, 17, Menzies College, Southland
- David Barredo, 16, Otahuhu College, Auckland
- Jamie Beaton, 17, King’s College, Auckland
- David Bishop, 17, Nayland College, Auckland
- Kate Puanaki, 16, St Joseph’s Maori Girls’ College, Napier
- Daniel Oram, 17, Mt Hutt College, Canterbury
Congratulations to you all. All students are supported are either supported by the Talented School Students Travel Award funded by the Ministry of Science & Innovation or the Freemasons Charity FREESTA Fund.
Olympiad news
International Olympiad teams
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected for international Olympiads.
International Chemistry Olympiad, July, Washington DC
- Andy Chen, Macleans College
- Robert (Min Sup) Shin, Macleans College
- Matthew Lie, Westlake Boys High School
- Henry (Pak-Hang,) Yuen, Auckland Grammar School
International Maths Olympiad, Argentina
- James Allen, Kristen School
- Natalia Chen, St Cuthbert’s College
- Byrung-Cheol Cho, Auckland Grammar School
- George Han, Westlake Boys’ High School
- Hao Jen, Hillcrest High School
- Arun Shanmuganathan, Auckland International College
International Geography Olympiad, Cologne, Germany
- Scott Camerson, Hamilton Boys’ High School
- Conor Clemett, Riccarton High School
- Brent Coleman, Hamilton Boys’ High School
- Sidney Wong Hutt Valley High School
International Young Physicist Tournament, July, Germany
- Kaylie Potaka, Onslow College, Wellington
- Oliver Hughes, Onslow College, Wellington
- Howell Fu, Auckland Grammar School
- Jesse Zhang, Auckland Grammar School
- Matthew Harvey, ACG Parnell
New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Team for IBO Singapore 2012
Richard Chou (Maclean’s College), Eddie McTaggart (Nelson College), Evelyn Qian (Diocesan School for Girls) and SuMin Yoon (Sacred Heart Girls’ College) will represent New Zealand in Singapore this July.
This is the culmination of eight months of hard work – but these students aren’t the only ones to benefit from the programme: all those who enter the on-line tutorial programme (hosted by the University of Waikato and featuring Pearson Education’s Mastering Biology tutorials) gain not only substantial knowledge in biology but also enhanced skills in critical thinking and data analysis which will stand them in good stead for their future careers.
In addition, the 21 students who attended the practical training camp (held at the University of Waikato and Massey University, Albany) honed their practical skills in lab sessions normally undertaken by first- and second-year university students.
“I would have no hesitation in offering the students who’ve attended the training camp direct entry to our second-year biology papers,” says Waikato’s Dr Alison Campbell. “In fact, we’re currently doing the paperwork to allow this group of students to apply for first-year biology credit in recognition of the learning outcomes they’ve achieved.”
2012 NZIBO training and selection camp participants at the University of Waikato
25th International Biology Olympiad
In 2014 New Zealand will be hosting the 25th International Biology Olympiad. The world’s top biology educators and secondary school biology students will converge on the University of Waikato for a week of intense academic effort – but there’ll also be time for making new friends, sharing ideas, and experiencing some of what New Zealand has to offer.
“The lead-up to this event will involve a huge amount of work,’ says NZIBO Chair Dr Angela Sharples, “and we’re very keen for more teachers and academics to join the NZIBO committee and become involved with this awesome event.”
On-line registration for the 2013 NZIBO programme is now open at www.nzibo.org. For students whose schools have never participated in NZIBO, the fee is $15 per student, while the cost for students from schools that have been involved is $30. All Year 11 and Year 12 biology students are encouraged to enrol. Registrations close on the 1st of August and the entrance exam will be held in the fourth week of Term 3 on Wednesday August 8, 2012.
In 2013, the International Biology Olympiad will be held in Bern, Switzerland. For further information please contact Dr H Meikle, Secretary NZIBO at: nzibo.register@gmail.com.
VEX World Robotics competition
Congratulations to the Kiwibots who won the VEX World Robotics competition for the 4th time.
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Results and awards that New Zealand won at the 2012 VEX World Robotics |
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School/University |
Place |
Award |
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Onehunga High School |
1st place |
WORLD CHAMPIONS |
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Otumoetai College |
1st place |
Mathematics Division Champions |
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Lynfield College |
1st place |
Science Division Champions |
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Onehungs High School |
1st place |
Engineering Division Champions |
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Auckland University |
1st place |
Autodesk Inventor CAD Design Champions |
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Kristin School |
2nd Place |
Website Design Challenge |
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Pinehurst School |
Community Award |
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MAX Home School |
Amaze Award |
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Massey University |
Build Award |
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Free Range Robotics |
Sportsmanship Award |
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Johan Potgieter |
Inducted into the VEX Hall of fame |
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Auckland University |
2nd Place |
College Championship |
University of Canterbury workshops for the Transit of Venus, Wednesday 6 June
On Wednesday 6 June we will (weather permitting) witness a sight which will not be repeated until December 2117 – a transit of Venus across the Sun. This happens when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, and is visible as a small black disc moving across the face of the Sun.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Canterbury is working with Science Outreach to provide one-hour workshops throughout the transit for keen young science students. Sessions are available from 10:00 in the morning, and finish at 3:00pm.
During their hour the students will:
- SAFELY observe the transit using specially made solar viewers (which they can take home), and a special solar telescope
- attend a short talk about the transit, given by an astronomer
- watch a live feed from the UC observatory at Mt John, (giving an extra chance of viewing in case of cloud in Christchurch)
We invite you to send your extension classes from Year 9 and 10 to take part in this momentous event.
Booking is essential – please contact the Science Outreach Coordinator at the University of Canterbury by email or phone, suggesting a start time to suit your group. Visits will start every 20 mins starting at 10:00 am ie 10:00, 10:20: 10:40: 11:00 etc.
Science Outreach Coordinator – Phone: +64 3 364 2178 Mobile: +64 27 450 3903 Email: outreach@canterbury.ac.nz
Calling for news stories
If you have any ‘good news’ stories about what your achievements have been, please drop a line to the editor: Debbie.woodhall@royalsociety.org.nz.
