WOOMBYE Year 12 student Sam Woolrych has been selected as one of five Australian
representatives to attend the London International Youth Science Forum,
in July.
Sam, the Matthew Flinders school captain, was selected for the London Forum
after attending the CRA National Youth Science Forum in Canberra, in January.
He was chosen by Rotary 76 from applicants from the Sunshine Coast and
Brisbane to attend the national forum and returned to Canberra last week,
for training on how to teach at the National Forum.
If he impresses the organisers at Canberra, Sam will return in a teaching
capacity next January.
But for now, Sam has London in his sights.
His class mates at the International Forum will represent 70 countries.
"There will be people from Albania to Zimbabwe," he said. "It should be
interesting."
Lecturers from around the world some from Oxford and Cambridge will teach
the students about all aspects of science. The forum will cover a variety
of topics from forensics to Egyptian mummies.
Sam said he hoped to learn more about scientific engineering, which he
plans to specialise in if he goes to university next year.
International forums and final year school examinations are not the only
activities occupying Sam's time.
He has been a Sunshine Coast Rugby Union representative since under 12s
and is also a qualified rugby referee.
"I referee up to under 19s," he said. "Refereeing the older players can
be a hit daunting."
Sam's talent as a player on the rugby field earnt him a place in the Queensland
Rugby Union Presidents Development Squad last year.
The squad was chosen to expose potentially good footballers to a higher
level.
He now has some tough decisions to make choosing between science and sport.
"Hopefully I can play rugby and pursue science at the same time," he said.
Introduction - Palmwoods District News
Contents - April 1997