Published on: 2 May 2019


Year 12 student Ben Davison-Petch is all geared up for the Asian Physics Olympiad being held in Adelaide from 5 to 13 May.

The only high school student chosen from Western Australia, Ben is among eight of Australia’s top performing student physicists who made the national team and will compete against more than 200 of Asia’s smartest kids representing 29 different countries and regions.

Leading up to the Olympiad, the student physicists have spent a year in exams and intensive training to make the cut, outperforming over 1700 other students who sat the qualifying exam and making a shortlist of 24 to attend a two-week physics summer school at Canberra’s Australian National University (ANU).

“The training has included a bunch of revision sets with 10 problems each, each being difficult and requiring a two-hour bash,” says Ben.

“The main worry is when you go from school physics to summer school and you realise – it’s quite difficult.”

Head of Science Mr Edward Hogg said, “Ben’s achievement is significant in that he had to balance a significant array of commitments which every Christ Church student is expected to do.”

“He has demonstrated resilience, creativity and perseverance – qualities we seek to develop in every young man.”

“We are extremely proud of Ben’s achievements and it is a reflection of the high quality of teaching and learning that all our students experience here at Christ Church.”

“Our commitment to provide opportunities for students to excel in the Sciences on a national and international stage is something we are extremely proud of, and we wish Ben every success in representing both Australia and the School in this prestigious event.”

Participants of the Asian Physics Olympiad will compete in theoretical and experimental exams that draw on first-year university physics.