Ni Hao Shenton!

25 March 2009

Principal

The Shenton College delegation to the 29th Annual Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition (BYSCC) has returned from a very enjoyable and productive trip to Beijing.

The Shenton delegation was led by Principal, Michael Morgan, and consisted of Year 11 students Lena Butenschoen, Nick Dyer, Adam Phillimore and Chrissie Hartley. The delegation also included Deputy Principal and Head of the Academic Talent Program, Chris Hill, Warwick Mathews (ATP Science) and Andrea Beck (Chaperone and mother of Lena).

The delegation visited the BYSCC at the invitation of the prestigious Beijing Association of Science and Technology (BAST). BAST generously subsidized the trip by providing all food and accommodation over the week. The University of Western Australia, through Professor Alan Robson, gave significant financial support to the trip as well.

The BYSCC is one of the most important student science competitions in China and this year there were over 90 delegates from overseas. 00,000 people attend the competition and related events each year, and it is a major focus of school and community interest with all events widely covered by local television and print media.

Our four students had a tremendous trip presenting their biotechnology research to the many visitors to the BYSCC at the Beijing No. 12 High School venue and interacting every day with the international delegates and local students. The quality of the science research on display was extremely high and a perfect context for the Shenton team to present their work, which was uniformly well received. All four students were ultimately awarded Gold Medals for their work.

A dual purpose of the trip was to visit and have talks with Beijing No 2 High School attached to Beijing Normal University. This high school is regarded as one of the best in Beijing and has a healthy engagement with international schools. While in Beijing the teaching staff, led by the Principal, visited and made arrangements for the two schools to develop a strong association in coming years focusing on science-based collaboration.

The trip was a great adventure for the students and staff. The BAST hosts made every effort to mix the hard work with some concentrated sightseeing excursions, so the delegation was able to visit the iconic sights in and around Beijing, both new and old. The Olympic stadium (the ‘Bird’s nest’) and the Aquatic venue (‘Water cube’) were visited as well as the Forbidden City, The Summer Palace and the Great Wall. While the more exotic market foods were avoided (the local student favourite being the skewered scorpions) the many dinners provided an exciting culinary experience as well.

All in all, a great experience for staff and students and one that we believe will lead to the development of solid links to No. 2 High School and BAST. Chrissie, Lena, Nick and Adam have been outstanding students for the College, and this trip also rewards their excellence over many years.