Australian Science and Engineering Fair

29/07/2024

In the closing ceremony for the 38th China Adolescents Science & Technology Innovation Contest (CASTIC), our four students all took out major awards. Adrian and Alex Zhuang (NSW) won a Gold Award in the Environmental Science category, Niyaz Hasan (NT) won a Silver Award in the Environmental Science category and Joshua Abordi (WA) won a Silver Award in the Mathematics category. They were placed 4th, 8th and 19th respectively in the international teams’ awards section, out of 36 international projects from 20 countries. Chinese students were judged separately. When comparing these results with the other competing countries, we performed brilliantly. Congratulations to Adrian, Alex, Niyaz and Joshua who have been wonderful ambassadors for Australia!

For all updates follow our Blog: https://aussef.com.au/latestupdates/

29/07/2024

Today was the official judging day. Students arrived at the Meijiang Convention Centre by 7:30am to attend their booth by 8am. There was no fanfare like ISEF, rather, photos and cheery well wishes as chaperones were separated from students. For 10 hours students were not permitted to leave the judging room. Lunch was brought to them, and they were to remain near their booth in case a judge came to see them. There was no timeline or agenda for judges to arrive, so students made the most of their day befriending nearby students, and revelled in their time with judges, spruking their projects and delighting in conversation.

After 6pm, students, chaperones and volunteers enjoyed dinner together before attending the International Youth Cultural Exchange Activity. Games and challenges were held to win prizes, there was dancing, badge and pin swapping and many many photos taken to remember new friends. Our koalas continued to be a big hit, but being Australian was novel enough in itself. Our vibrant AUSSEF team of students have had such a positive impact on so many people from so many places around the world.

For all updates follow our Blog: https://aussef.com.au/latestupdates/

29/07/2024

The boys are looking good and feeling comfortable. The first team to represent Australia at the China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest (CASTIC) are ready to go. Judging starts at 8am and finishes at 6pm, so it will be a very long and intensive day.

For all updates follow our Blog: https://aussef.com.au/latestupdates/

28/07/2024

We returned to Meijiang Convention Centre to finalise project set up this morning, where we found more participants than yesterday. More Chinese students have arrived to Tianjin, setting up ready for tomorrow's judging. There are 20 international countries participating in CASTIC and there are an estimated 600 students participating in 38th CASTIC.
Our posters have survived travel well and flattened out nicely onto the boards. Technology is certainly a Chinese strength. Digital stands at the end of booths allows you to “call” a display inspector with the touch of a button and a scan of your badge. Meeting all display rules and regulations our team returned to the hotel for lunch.

For all updates follow our Blog: https://aussef.com.au/latestupdates/

28/07/2024

This afternoon we were all taken on a cultural and scientific visit to the National Maritime Museum of China. With earpieces shared out, we were given a tour in English through the Ancient Oceans exhibition hall which is organised by geological ages, showcasing 1158 fossil specimens such as trilobites and nautiloids. In the Ocean Disasters Experience Hall a wave machine showed and graphed the impact of 1m waves and predicted the impact of 4m waves. Oceans Today showed exhibits from the Deep Ocean, Marine Life and Ocean Environment and Sustainable Development. Joshua recognised a piece of home with a large Whale Shark hanging from the roof. Our tour finished with a group photo of all of the international students, chaperones and our volunteer helpers.
Home for dinner, project presentation practice and an early night ready for a big day of judging tomorrow. Judging is a huge day. We are up for breakfast at 5:30 and will bus into the convention centre at about 6:30am. It takes a good half hour to get there, then judging starts at 8am. They finish at 6pm – they are in judging for 9 hours!!

For all updates follow our Blog: https://aussef.com.au/latestupdates/

28/07/2024

With thanks to Robert at Flight Centre, our AUSSEF team arrived synchronously in Singapore’s beautiful Changi airport for our united flight into Tianjin. Arriving at 7:30am after approximately 15hrs of transit, we were quite overwhelmed to be met by cameras and video cameras, with our volunteer, Angela, welcoming us and explaining that they were wanting to photograph and interview us. The welcoming continued as we were escorted to our accommodation at the Tianjin Scientists and Engineers Club. A magnificent hotel with another round of photographs and welcome gifts. All international participants are staying here, which has allowed for students to instantly start forming new connections as they meet in the halls and dining room. The Australian team have already formed good friends with the Cambodian team.

After freshening up, we had lunch and headed to the Meijiang Convention Centre to start setting up displays. What a magnificent building! With just a small group of us setting up, the huge space was very quiet. We are looking forward to seeing it filled with all contestants over the coming days.
A quiet evening to recharge for tomorrow’s events.

For all updates follow our Blog: https://aussef.com.au/latestupdates/

28/07/2024

After our team’s strong performance in Los Angeles, we received an invitation to send a four member team to China to compete at Asia’s largest school student Science Fair. The AUSSEF Committee saw that this would be another good opportunity to showcase Australia’s amazing school STEM talent and so we quickly organised a representative team. The team from left to right are Adrian and Alex Zhuang (NSW), Joshua Abordi (WA) and Niyaz Hasan (NT). They and their chaperone Jessica Neilsen (NT), joined up in Singapore from their respective states and territories and they will be travelling to Tianjin, China to compete at 38th CASTIC (China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest).

For all updates follow our Blog: https://aussef.com.au/latestupdates/

22/05/2024

2024 Record-breaking results. At the Regeneron ISEF 2024 Grand Awards, the Australian team won 5 Grand Awards!

These Grand Awards are only for the best 25-27% of projects in each category. So a category with 80 projects will have something like 2 firsts, 4 seconds, 6 thirds and 8 fourths, while 60 projects miss out on an award. So a fair like ours with 9 projects will, on average, have 2 Grand Awards. Last year we had 3 Grand Awards, which was fantastic, but 5 Grand Awards is extraordinary!

Our Grand Award winners are:

2nd Place in the category of Translational Medicine – Aditya Ghai from Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), QLD

3rd Place in the category of Biomedical Engineering – Jeslyn Tan from Barker College, NSW

3rd Place in the category of Earth and Environmental Sciences – Pothik Vincent Mondol, Mohammad Niyaz Hasan and Monishi Rangchak Tripura from Darwin High School, NT

3rd Place in the category of Earth and Environmental Sciences – Adrian Zhuang and Alex Zhuang from The King's School NSW

4th Place in the category of Software Systems – Rahul Kumar from Brisbane Grammar School

With the two team awards we effectively had 8 out of our 12 finalists win Grand Awards – a very good day for STEM students from Australia. In Australia’s 25 years of ISEF representation we have never won more than four Grand Awards, so this is a record-breaking performance.

This is on the back of two Special Awards won last night:

USD $800 – 2nd Place in the INCOSE Systems Engineering Award – Jeslyn Tan from Barker College, NSW

USD $500 – Prize winner in the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Award – Kevin Hao from Knox Grammar School, NSW.

On behalf of the 22-strong Australian delegation who travelled to Los Angeles, we would like to firstly thank our judges who wisely selected the top nine projects; our sponsors who made this trip possible; the The Royal Society of Victoria who managed the plethora of funding transactions; the parents and teachers who supported each of the student finalists and most importantly the wonderful AUSSEF - Australian Science and Engineering Fair Committee who organised the whole selection process and the all-expenses-paid-trip to Los Angeles.

Our sights are now set on ISEF 2025 to be held in Columbus Ohio, so we would love sponsors to jump on board now to give their expressions of interest so we can better prepare for this event.

Australian Science and Engineering Fair AUSSEF 2024 Welcome to the 2024 edition of the Australian Science and Engineering Fair (AUSSEF). This year promises to be bigger and better with a number of significant changes that will provide greater scope and opportunities for every Australian student. Pro...

17/05/2024

Thursday 16th May: Public Visitation and Education Outreach Day had our finalists back at their booths and sharing their projects. This also gave chaperones, staff and families the opportunity to see everyone in action. To say the Koala’s our finalists had to hand out to visitors were a hit, is an understatement. Students and adults alike were thrilled to receive their little piece of Australia. We have certainly made an impact in our international relations as well as sharing our talented Science and Engineering students. Finalists also participated in their Category Networking Sessions where they enjoyed lunch while hearing from experts in their field and spent time with their fellow category finalists.

17/05/2024

Another Special Award! Kevin Hao, Knox Grammar School - won a Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) award for an outstanding achievement in research and innovation.

The Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council, is committed to promoting advancements in research, development, and innovation initiatives locally and globally. QRDI catalyzes progress across various sectors, fostering collaboration and partnerships to address pressing societal issues and promote sustainable growth.

17/05/2024

Amazing news from the ISEF Special awards, Jeslyn Tan, Barker College - won a 2nd place International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) award for being one of the best interdisciplinary projects that can produce technologically appropriate solutions that meet societal needs

15/05/2024

Our main attractions of the day were the three Q&A sessions with Excellence in Science and Technology Panel, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Impact Panel and a live stream with Jeanette Epps from the International Space Station. Out of the 1700 students here, Adrian from The King's School and Jeslyn from Barker College were both selected to ask their questions to the Panels. We were really proud of their questions and feedback in response. Some of the favourite take aways from these morning sessions included “It doesn’t matter where you are, it matters what you do there”, “Stay open to opportunity”, “Follow your passion now, then pivot with your interest area”, “Be uncomfortable, take opportunities that push you”, “Be curious, keep pushing to learn more from people you admire”, and “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Make time, pace yourself, find balance”.