Scotch College

John Buin makes the Science Olympiad

Words: Atit Bhargava • Staff

Just weeks before our elite athletes jetted off to Beijing for the Olympics, Year 12 Scotch student John Buin proudly donned the Australian jacket with 12 of our brightest young scientists, as they set out overseas to bring home gold for Australia in the 2008 International Science Olympiads.

And not only was John representing Australia – he is also one of only three Victorian students to make it into this year’s Science Olympiad teams.

John and his brilliant team mates battled it out against hundreds of bright sparks from all over the world in the International Physics Olympiad in Hanoi, Vietnam, thanks to funding from the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and Merck Sharp & Dohme.

The team members were chosen to represent Australia after a gruelling series of special classes, exams, study sessions, and an intensive summer scholar school training program run by Australian Science Innovations, the not-for-profit organisation that manages the Olympiad program.

John, who says since he was young he has always been interested in how and why things work, said he was excited to meet and compete against other students with a passion for science from all over the world in Hanoi.

‘Science is so important in terms of research, because it allows us to solve or understand important issues – for example, global warming.’ John said. ‘The Olympiad helps students to further their interest in science.’

Dr Chris Stewart, Executive Director of Australian Science Innovations, said we heap praise on our sporting idols and Hollywood actors, and now, through the International Science Olympiads, we have the chance to revere our gifted young minds and cheer them on to greatness as they don the Australian jacket on the world stage.

‘The Olympiads are a key strategy in building our competitive edge in the global knowledge economy by identifying, training and challenging emerging young talent. Our bright young minds hold the key to the ongoing future of scientific research and development in Australia,’ said Dr Stewart.

‘These students are the best of the best. One of them may even be the next Ian Frazer and discover a medical breakthrough that has profound benefits for people throughout the world,’ he said.
GS