Henry Morgan (left) with Brindabella Christian College head of science Vijy Antony (right), after being announced as an International Earth Science Olympiad team member. Photo: Supplied.
Brindabella Christian College year 12 student Henry Morgan has been announced as one of just 21 students representing Australia at the 2023 International Science Olympiads.
The global annual competition will this year pit more than 1000 students from 102 countries against each other, in biology, chemistry, earth science and physics-related events.
Henry will compete in the earth science event and is the sole Canberran in the event’s eight-person team, as well as the only ACT student in the entire Australian delegation.
“When I first heard about it, I was really honestly quite shocked,” he says. “It’s almost the biggest thing that I think I’ve ever done … It’s a bit surreal to be a part of.”
However the 17-year-old who “can’t remember a time” when he wasn’t interested in science doesn’t actually study earth and environmental science in school.
“Initially I was just going to do the [Australian Science] Olympiads that pertained to the subjects I was doing in school [physics and chemistry],” he says.
“But I was encouraged to give them all a go, because they’re all a bit of a challenge to, not just your science knowledge, but the way you think.”
The Australian Science Olympiads is the precursor to the global event and the first of several steps to qualifying to represent Australia on the world stage.
Henry was among the 24 top-performing Australian students in the earth science exam, earning him a place at an intensive summer school at the Australian National University (ANU).
“I wasn’t aiming for summer school or anything like that when I went into it, but when I was offered the opportunity, it just seemed like something I couldn’t turn down,” he says.
The two-week summer school sprint at ANU culminates in two “quite difficult” exams for the earth science discipline, whittling 24 students down to just eight top performers.
Henry says being selected as one of what he calls the “lucky eight” didn’t hit home until a public ceremony at Parliament House in June. Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic read his name out in front of Australian chief scientist Dr Cathy Foley, his teacher and Brindabella Christian College head of science Vijy Antony and others, and presented him his official Australian blazer.
Last year, Australia won four of its five gold medals through the earth science discipline, with one of the gold-winning students achieving the highest individual score in the discipline.
“Australia has a very good reputation … but I really don’t know what to expect or how we’ll go,” Henry says. “But I think that it will definitely be something to remember nonetheless.”
He says he and his teammates are more excited than nervous ahead of the international earth science olympiad, which will run online between Sunday 20 August and Saturday 26 August.
Beyond the competition and then later graduation, Henry’s still trying to decide between engineering or science but one thing he’s certain of is recommending the Australian Science Olympiads to others. “Even if it’s not something you think is up your alley or if it’s a subject that you don’t do,” he says. “It’s a fun challenge with no pressure and you also never know where it might take you.”
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