2000 School Magazine

achievers in moths and science

It was an unforgettable experience. We also met some interesting characters, one of whom was a enthusiastic kebab vendor whose entire English repertoire consisted of, "yummy, yummy, good fo turnmy, I can help you spend your money. During the week of the competition, I had the good fortune to be staying with my three male teammates in a luxury 5-star resort hotel on the Mediterranean coast. Over the week, 150 students from thirty-eight countries completed five hours of theory papers and seven hours of practical exams. These were all undertaken in the scorching fifty-degree heat and to our great surprise and horror, without calculators. The Australian team was extremely successful, bringing home one gold, two silver and one bronze medal, (I received a silver medal). I also brought home new friendships and memories of wonderful Turkish hospitality. I must thank Mrs Sharma for her hours of assistance and motivation, and the school for the great support it has given me in my activities.

INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD

On 27 June I excitedly boarded a Qantas plane wearing my green and gold "zucchini suit" having been selected as part of the Rio Tinto Australian Biology Olympiad Team to represent Australia in the 11th International Biology Olympiad in Antalya, Turkey. This was the culmination of almost ten months of work both at school under Mrs Vim Sharma, and at the University of Canberra during the January and Easter holidays. Katharine Hollingsworth was also successful in the program, narrowly missing selection in the Australian Team. From January to June, we studied approximately 16kg of Biology textbooks and worksheets. That is not to say we neglected our Physics, Chemistry and Maths, as they are important sub-groups within the all-encompassing science, Biology. We arrived in Istanbul for a week of acclimatization and after overcoming setbacks such as a minor earthquake and my luggage in explicably ending up in Singapore, we settled in for some solid sightseeing. Unfortunately, our hotel was situated between the loudspeakers of the two largest mosques in Turkey so at dawn every morning we were woken by the two inuezzins competing to be the loudest at calling the faithful to prayer.

Mono Barker

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sopHiE FERRIS

Throughout her time at Girls Grammar Sophie has participated strongly in the music, sporting and dramatic programs whilst maintaining an extremely high academic standard. Her achievements in many areas both inside and outside the school, have been wide and impressive. This year she achieved her Gold Award for Duke of Edinburgh, which is rare for someone still at high school. She was regional final ist for the Brisbane area in Lion's Youth of the Year. Selection for this involved impromptu speeches, prepared speeches and interviews on current affairs. Her accomplishments in Science and particularly Physics are also well worth noting. Last year she achieved a high distinction in the Qualifying exam for the Physics Olympiad that led her to an intensive three day seminar at Grimth University along with Vanessa Haberkern and Claire Humphreys who achieved distinctions. Her results in the second exam placed her in the top twenty participants in Australia. Over the Christmas holidays, Sophie spent two weeks in Canberra , as part of the Australian training squad for the International Physics Olympiad. The entire first year university course for Physics was covered in those two weeks but Sophie undertook the s challenge in style. That same holiday she also attended the National Youth Science Forum, which F1 gave students an idea about working in Science. This year, along with four other Girls Grammar students, she attended the International Young Physicists Tournament as the Australian Team Captain. The team was placed tenth overall and Sophie achieved an individual ranking of twelfth co out of eighty-five. Sophie Ferris is a bright and talented young student who has an exciting future ahead of her. " co a in ^. o , =

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Sophiein Singopore an route to them ternoriono! Young Physicists IOUmoment

CIOire Humphreys