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Jacinta to represent Australia in the Asian Physics Olympiad

Jacinta Rees with the silver medal she received in the 2022 International Earth Science Olympiad

Meriden student, Jacinta Rees, is preparing to compete against the best student-physicists in the world at the Asian Physics Olympiad, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, later this month. Jacinta will represent Australia in the competition known to be one of the most challenging science competitions for high school students.

The Year 12 student is no stranger to representing her country on the world stage, having won silver medals for Australia at the inaugural International Junior Science Olympiad in 2021 and the International Earth Science Olympiad in 2022.

Jacinta’s journey began last year when she sat the Science Olympiad examinations. Her performance in the exams secured her spot at the Science Olympiad Summer School where she was selected as one of eight members of the Australian team.

Earlier in the year, Jacinta and her teammates attended a week-long training camp where they completed lab and theory work and applied their new knowledge in practice examinations.

Students from twenty-nine countries will be taking part in the Asian Physics Olympiad, which will be held overseas for the first time since 2019 after being held virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite being in the middle of completing her important HSC year, Jacinta is not letting the pressure phase her and said she is looking forward to competing in a discipline she loves.

“I am excited to meet likeminded peers from other countries and look forward to exploring parts of Mongolia together,” said Jacinta.

“Physics is an exciting and challenging discipline. It is a great combination of problem-solving, real-life applications, maths and science.”

Jacinta is planning a career in biomedical engineering following the HSC and is passionate about encouraging more women to explore STEM.

“I think young women are often turned off from a career in STEM due to gender biases and perhaps underestimate their abilities in these historically male-dominated environments,” said Jacinta.

“Having more women working in STEM will help to eliminate these biases and encourage more balanced participation in these fields.”

Congratulations, Jacinta, on your selection to the Australian team. The School community wishes you the very best as you prepare to once again represent Meriden and your country at an international level.

 

 

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