As part of the Australian team for the International Physics Olympiad, I was privileged enough to have the opportunity to go to Israel to compete in the July holidays. This was undoubtedly a life-changing experience: seeing the world, and meeting the world's future scientists. I met passionate students from across the globe, from countries including, but not limited to: Kazakhstan, Brazil, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Germany, Poland, France, Korea, and Israel. Whilst scientific knowledge was what brought me to the science olympiads, the breadth of cultural experience I gained from the many people I met is equally important.
The olympiad itself revolved around two five-hour exams, one theoretical, and one experimental. These exams are designed to test one's understanding of a broad range of physical phenomena - from electromagnetism to particle physics, from fluid mechanics to physical optics, with many other interesting physics sojourns along the way! When we weren't sitting five-hour exams (in the same hall as Eurovision 2019 was held in!), we were lucky enough to sight-see the beautiful Holy Land. I had the opportunity to float in the Dead Sea, ride camels around a Bedouin camp, raft on the Jordan River, see the Western Wall, the ancient ruins of Apollonia National Park, and the beautiful port city of Jaffa. Learning about Israel's rich and varied history was fascinating, as was learning about the culture of modern-day Israel. I could not help but think that my journey all the way to the International Physics Olympiad in Tel Aviv started with an innocent, but powerful curiosity about the world, fostered wholeheartedly by my teachers at Merici.
I was lucky enough to come home with a Bronze medal and some interesting facts about Israel- but more importantly, I was granted the opportunity to get to know the immensely talented and hardworking Australian team. I am thankful for the experience, and strongly urge everyone to sit the Australian Science Olympiad exams. You never know where science can take you.
Rosemary Zielinski
Year 12
