The Hong Kong team of the 13th Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) trained by the Department of Physics of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) achieved the best results ever in the competition, amassing 1 gold, 2 bronze medals and 3 honorable mentions. Amongst the brilliant contestants is gold medalist Lam Ho-tat, who achieved fourth place in Asia amongst competitors in APhO.
HKUST is dedicated to discovering and nurturing elite talents who are highly competent and passionate about science, so as to advance the science and technology development of Hong Kong. Hong Kong contestants of this year’s APhO, who are themselves outstanding performers in the Hong Kong Physics Olympiad 2011, have attended comprehensive training by HKUST for one year. Having received training in Physics equivalent to Bachelor’s level, they were tested on their theoretical knowledge and practical techniques for the subject. The Physics Enhancement Program was led by faculty members of HKUST’s Department of Physics including Prof Jason Yang Zhi-yu, Prof Michael Wong Kwok-yee, Prof Chen Tian-wen and postgraduate students Ma Guan-cong and Yang Min. The leader of the Hong Kong Team was Prof Chen who accompanied the team to compete at the APhO.
Prof Jason Yang Zhi-yu said, “I am delighted that the Hong Kong Team accomplished the city’s best ever results in APhO after undergoing the Physics Enhancement Program at HKUST. Whereas our contestants in past years were from Secondary Six, we are having Secondary Five students represent Hong Kong this year due to the 334 new academic structure. Despite being young in age, they were able to stand out amid intense competition, which perfectly demonstrates the superior potential and capacity of secondary school students in science. The outstanding performance of the Hong Kong team testifies to the breadth and depth of HKUST’s program, which lives up to a world-class reputation. HKUST will continue to train leaders while reaching new frontiers in science.”
Gold medalist Lam Ho-tat is a Secondary Five student from Pui Shing Catholic Secondary School. He also won the first honor prize in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Physics Olympiad held in February 2012. The bronze medalists were Secondary Four student Tam Pok-man from Sing Yin Secondary School and Secondary Five student Lum Kai-chun from Queen’s College, while the honorable mentions were Secondary Five student Wong Yiu-man from Queen Elizabeth School, Secondary Five student Man Siu-hang from CCC Ming Yin College and Secondary Five student Shing Ming Tony from Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School. The remaining two members of the Hong Kong team were Secondary Five student Chiu Chun-fung from Kwun Tong Maryknoll College and Secondary Five student Yim Lok-lam from PLK No 1 WH Cheung College.
This year’s APhO was held from 30 April to 7 May in Delhi, India, with 156 contestants from 21 countries/regions participating. The APhO aims to promote education in physics, strengthen interaction and co-operation among experts in physics in Asia, and train and inspire teenagers who are highly talented in physics.
For media enquiries, please feel free to contact :
Mavis Wong
Tel: 2358 6306
Email: maviswong@ust.hk
