Year 12 Merici College student, Rosemary Zielinski, travelled to Israel to compete in the 2019 International Physics Olympiad as a member of the Australian team. The Catholic Education Office, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn provided support for Rosemary’s journey to Israel.

“This was undoubtedly a life-changing experience,'' said Rosemary.

“Whilst scientific knowledge was what brought me to the science Olympiads, the breadth of cultural experience I gained from the many people I met is equally important.”

The Olympiad consisted of two five hour exams, one theoretical and one experimental and was designed to test knowledge of a broad range of physical phenomena. When she wasn’t sitting exams, Rosemary was out exploring the sights that Israel has to offer.

“I had the opportunity to float in the Dead Sea, see the Western Wall, ride camels around a Bedouin camp and raft on the Jordan River,” she said.

“Learning about Israel’s rich history was fascinating, as I was learning about the culture of modern day Israel.”

Rosemary returned to Australia with a Bronze medal and credits her teachers at Merici for fostering her sense of curiosity about the world. She encourages everyone to sit the Australian Science Olympiad exams.

“You never know where science can take you,” she said.