2023 School Magazine

JUNNIOR YOUNG PHYSICISTS TOURNAMENT (JYPT)

Over the Term 3 holiday period, Lauren Liang (10L), Elise Selwa (10G), Soumya Brahmbhatt (8M), Lucy Petersen (8B) and Sunnie Lin (10M) travelled to Wellington, New Zealand, to compete in the Junior Young Physicists’ Tournament (JYPT). After performing experiments and researching theories since the start of the year, we faced teams across Australia and New Zealand, presenting our findings in ‘Physics Fights’. It was interesting and exciting to see how others interpreted the problems and staying in a shared dorm helped us connect and make friends from different schools. The team placed third overall, and we are extremely grateful to Ms Keating, Mr Lumsden and Ms Nunan for coming along and supporting us throughout the trip. It was a challenging but rewarding experience and many of us will continue to the Senior IYPT competition. Sunnie Lin (10M)

ONLINE YOUNG PHYSICISTS TOURNAMENT (OYPT)

The Online Young Physicists Tournament (OYPT) is an international physics competition where students report their research on a science problem from a pre-determined list. After each presentation, the reporter undertakes a discussion with an opponent from another country. During this stage, both competitors' scientific knowledge and communication skills are tested in a series of back-and-forth discussions between both parties. A team of five from BGGS—Carmen O’Connell (12E), Ellen Baek (11E), Emma Wong (11W), Sophie List (11E), and Susie Shen (12O)—participated in the national OYPT Australia competition and placed first. This year three participants, Carmen, Ellen and Emma, alongside other students from across the country, were selected to form the Australian team, with Carmen selected as Australian team captain. Between 3-6 August, these students ‘scienced it out’ in five three-hour ‘physics fights’, some of which ended at 11 pm— making the competition both a test of scientific knowledge and mental endurance! After winning a fight against the Iranian team, the Australian team consolidated their final position of 14th place. Special thanks must be given to Mr Allinson, the coordinator, who has generously answered many questions and Mr Lumsden, who provided many resources for experimentation. Emma Wong (11W) and Ellen Baek (11E)

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