21 June 2018

Marcellin College, Bulleen, Year 11 VCE student Stephen Catsamas has been selected to represent Australia at the UNESCO-sanctioned International Science Olympiads in July. Stephen with sixteen other teenage Australians will compete in the world’s toughest science competitions against some of the smartest kids in the world.

Stephen has outperformed thousands of older talented students in selection exams and training to represent Australia in physics. He recently received a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Physics Olympiad in Hanoi, Vietnam (APhO). ‘At Marcellin we are very proud of Stephen’s achievement. Stephen is a diligent student who has not only achieved at a very high level, he is also a fine young man who supports both his teachers and classmates in the science classrooms’, said Mark Murphy, Principal of Marcellin.

The Olympians received their Australian team blazers from the Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation, Senator the Hon. Zed Seselja, at an official team announcement ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra, on Monday 18 June.

The Year 10, 11 and 12 students picked to compete this year represent 11 schools from NSW, VIC, and the ACT with Marcellin College one of the Victorian schools. They have spent a year in exams and intensive training to make the cut. They outperformed more than 6,000 other students from more than 280 schools in the qualifying exams, making a shortlist of 91 to attend a two-week summer school at the Australian National University in preparation for the Olympiads.

Stephen will test his skills against the world’s best in Portugal in the International Physics Olympiad competition from 21 July to 29 July. Stephen Catsamas stated, ‘It is an honour to represent by country. [And] whilst it is a Physics competition, I am excited about the people I will meet to add to the experience. However, I cannot believe that I have been given this unique opportunity.’

The Australian Science Olympiads program is run by non-profit Australian Science Innovations and funded through the Australian Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda, with support from the Australian National University.

Learn more about the Australian Science Olympiad Competition at www.asi.edu.au and read about Stephen’s selection for the Asian Physics Olympiad.