Science Competition Success

Year 10 student Kevin Song has taken his Science project to a Gold Coast competition and won first place in the Year 9 to 10 Scientific investigation Category. He will now progress to a national event.

As a part of the Year 10 Science journey, students were given a task to complete a self-directed scientific investigation. This required choosing a topic to research, and then undertake different experiments to explore a certain global issue. This year, I researched a specific method of efficient and clean energy using the mass production of hydrogen gas. Using the abundant seawater and the different minerals (especially NaCl) as free ions, I could create the hydrogen gas using a process of electrolysis. This experiment relies on an electrical current to separates ion in the solution to isolate a specific element (in this case hydrogen).

With this science project, I was offered a myriad of different opportunities to compete against other students; from the Somerset Science Competition, to the Griffith University Gold Coast Science Competition, and then onto the STAQ State Science Competition. I was fortunate enough to be able to place first in the Year 9 to 10 Scientific Investigation Category. My investigation, along with the investigations by Desmond Chuah and Mohnish Chand will now proceed to the BHP Billiton National Science Competition, what an amazing opportunity!

From my experiences, the key to success in competitions such as these ones, is to have a certain enthusiasm to drive your curiosity. Not only is this a chance to research your chosen topic but it is also a chance to create innovation and widen your perception of the world.

I would also like to congratulate fellow students who also received awards – Desmond Chuah and Mohnish Chand. A special mention to Kelly Park who received the Royal Australian Chemistry Institute Bursary, and Vanessa van Twuiver Suarez who was awarded the Australian Society of Biochemistry Bursary.