So you’ve heard all about the Australian Olympiad Teams Announcement (AOTA) ceremony. All the fanfare, MPs and VIP’s at Australian Parliament House, with a whirlwind of media and minister engagements on the Monday and thereafter, amid preparing to head overseas to compete in the International Science Olympiads. But the event before THE event… that should not be overlooked.

This year the casual-yet-key Sunday afternoon and evening marked a special milestone as students, staff, and supporters gathered to celebrate the next generation of Australian science talent with the, um, old generation.

After flying, bussing and driving in, the teams gathered for media training in a quiet ANU auditorium overlooking the lake and chilly Canberra winterscape. Michelle Rowe of Pitch Perfect took the ASI and AMT students through an insightful session, discussing why media engagement is important, what to expect, how to handle nerves or stuff-ups, and then interview practice with their peers.

By dinnertime, students, families and special guests who had travelled from across Australia, for the AOTA event the following day, were ready to eat! As they filled their plates from the buffet of Vietnamese food, everyone enjoyed casual catch-ups with team mates, chats with alumni and program staff, and a chance to practice their interview questions.

We were welcomed to the ‘formal’ part of the proceedings by Wayne Wong, Co-Program Director of ASO Earth and Environmental Science Olympiad Program, “I was very pleased to get the opportunity to speak tonight because I was myself here eight years ago now as a student on the 2018 IESO team when we represented Australia in Thailand.”

Wayne congratulated the students on the years of effort that led them here, reminding them that their success was built over time through persistence and curiosity. Acknowledging the mix of confidence and doubt many feel, he reassured the group that “you’ve been chosen by your staff for a reason” and encouraged them to embrace both the honour and the opportunity.

The speech closed with practical advice to enjoy the experience beyond medals, focusing on friendships, global connections, and the broader journey ahead. Students were also urged to recognise the community behind their achievements and to consider giving back in the future, carrying forward both excellence and the Australian spirit of being “good blokes and good sheilas”.

“We help those people who need to be helped. We are friendly. We say hello to every single person on our journeys. We bring everyone along with us. We’re the leaders. Every single ISO, every single year, we see just how much our students step up and take charge. Well, not even take charge, but sometimes you’re a quiet leader and you’re helping folks from behind as well. And all of that is the most important thing, I would say.”

Next we were introduced to Dr Stuart Midgley, President of the Australian Institute of Physics, who contributed to the ASO Physics Olympiad Program for many years as a tutor and Deputy Director. A memorable experience during this time was serving as team leader for the International Physics Olympiad in 2000, where the team competed in the United Kingdom, and one of the members of the team was Dr Adele Morrison.

“Adele won the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year in 2022, one of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. She’s now classified as one of Australia’s eminent scientists. These students go on to have amazing careers, and for the students this is where you are going to go.”

Thank you to Adele, who also attended the Sunday event to share her wisdom and support the teams. Stuart reflected on the program’s history and enduring philosophy of students returning to lead future generations, creating a legacy that has been passed down for decades.

In his address, Stuart shared both humour and perspective from years of involvement, reminding parents and students alike that the experience extends far beyond the competition itself. Emphasising the global connections formed, he noted that “most of my really close friends today are Olympiad people,” highlighting the lifelong networks and opportunities that emerge from the program.

He concluded with encouragement for students to embrace the journey, reassuring them that while medals may seem important now, they matter far less in the long term than personal growth and relationships.

Urging them to represent Australia with pride, he summed it up simply: “Have a good time… build friendships — it’s really, really important.”

We heard congratulations and well-wishes from Jodie Lee, a quantitative trader from ASI Major Partner, Citadel Securities, whose organisation recognises the vital importance of investing in the next generation of scientific thinkers and problem-solvers, like our Science Olympiad students. Speaking with Jodie and her Citadel Securities colleague, Claire Huang, you can feel their passion for reaching students from underrepresented demographics, such as regional areas, and encouraging girls into STEM fields. The students were keen to talk to Jodie and Claire and find out about the world of quantitative trading!

This was a great way to highlight our partnership with Citadel Securities, who help support talented young Australians by giving them the opportunities, resources, and encouragement they need to chase their passion for science and make a real impact in the future of research, technology, and discovery.

The blazers, a big part of the well-known ‘blazer ceremony’, were presented to the students by Jodie and Claire. With a gentle reminder from ASI staff to not forget their blazers and ties for the ceremony the next day, the students departed to their ANU accommodation for a big sleep ahead of the big event.

Thank you to the students and their parents and families who attended to share a meal, and prepare for the AOTA ceremony and the International Science Olympiads ahead.

Thank you to Wayne and Stuart, along with the ASI Alumni and Program Staff who attended including Trent, Leslie, Lachlan, Grace, Julie, Samuel, Tristan, Adele, Sebastian, Adrian, Audrey, Kowan and Katya.

You can find out more about each team and their Olympiad here: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science and Physics. Congratulations and good luck to all!

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Read all the details and see photos of the 2026 Australian Olympiad Teams Announcement Ceremony

Announcing the 2026 International Science Olympiad teams!