Australian Science Innovations

Alumni of Australian Science Innovations

Since 1987, 260 young Australians have travelled internationally to compete in the Biology, Chemistry or Physics Olympiads. What did the experience mean to them? How did it influence their studies and their subsequent careers? Where are they now?  

  Alumnus of the month: November 2009

Dustin Stuart, a 21 year old science student at the University of WA, has been selected as the West Australian Rhodes Scholar for 2010.

He plans to take up a PhD in Laser Physics at Oxford University next year.

Dustin was a member of the chemistry team in the 2005 Olympiads in Taiwan, where he won a bronze medal. Attending the training camps was part of the selection process, and that is where he fell in love with organic chemistry.

"I remember being awestruck at the Miller-Urey experiment, where a jar filled with water, methane and ammonia was energised with sparks to simulate lightning strikes to simulate the conditions that existed on Earth 4 billion years ago," he said.

"Taiwan was incredible - hundreds of like-minded people concentrated in the one place. We had so much in common and I made lots of intense friendships. ... A typhoon hit the island halfway through the Olympiad, and I remember dancing on the rooftop in torrential rainfall with people I'd only known for a few days."

Since returning from Taiwan, Dustin has been a staff member at the chemistry Science Summer School. He lectures in physical chemistry and now fills the shoes of Anthony Phillips, the lecturer who inspired him in quantum mechanics.

Dustin is passionate about teaching, believing that it is crucial to encourage young people to take up science. Eventually he'd like a career which combines teaching and research.

"Most of my friends who are involved in science said they chose to study it because of an inspirational high school teacher or lecturer," he said.

Being an Olympian helped his application for the Rhodes Scholarship. Dustin says he made a big point of how that experience had given him a head start in science.

Ultimately he plans to help a new generation become inspired by the Olympiads by starting a science extension program, "to give kids the same opportunity as I had to discover science".

 

2009 Biology   Tsukuba, Japan

• Thomas Brereton   NSW   Gold
• Mel Chen   VIC   Silver
• Kristijan Jovanoski   VIC   Silver
• James Woodmansey   NSW   Gold

2009 Chemistry   Cambridge, UK

• Kelvin Cheung   NSW   Bronze
• Bill Huang   VIC   Silver
• Fangzhi Jia   NSW   Silver
• Jason Kong   WA   Silver

2009 Physics   Merida, Mexico

• Christopher Herron   NSW   Hon mention
• Thomas Lacy   NSW   Silver
• Cathryn McDonald   SA   Bronze
• Fiona Naughton   NSW   Bronze

2008 Biology   Mumbai, India

• Ruby Kwong   NSW   Gold
• David Leitinger   VIC   Silver
• Jonathan Marwick   NSW   Gold
• Keshinie Rasaratnam   VIC   Silver

2008 Chemistry   Budapest, Hungary

• Willian Jackson   NSW   Bronze
• Mingyue Kardashinsky   NSW   Silver
• Yufeng Shi   NSW   Silver
• Daren Tan   WA   Silver

2008 Physics   Hanoi, Vietnam

• John Biun   VIC   Bronze
• Jowa Chan   NSW   Bronze
• Jake Glidden   QLD   Silver
• Rocky Yip   QLD   Bronze
• Bonnie Zhang   NSW   Hon mention

Alumni Honour Roll - 1987 to now.