Audrey Kung (Year 13) has been selected for the International Young Physicists’ Tournament team, representing New Zealand in Sweden this winter.

Audrey was a member of the QMC Physics team (Audrey Kung, Yovela Li, and Teija Joronen) who secured 3rd place at the New Zealand Young Physicists’ Tournament (NZYPT) in March. This competition brings together top physics students from across Aotearoa to tackle real-world research problems. Over months of preparation, teams design experiments, apply theory, and refine their findings. The Tournament was held at Auckland Grammar Boys’ School, where the team presented their work and defended it in intense ‘Physics Matches’, similar to debates, all under the scrutiny of a panel of physics experts.

After presenting her research at NZYPT, Audrey was chosen as one of 12 “possibles” for the national team. Following another round of problem-solving and presentations, Audrey has earned a spot as one of five team members and is the only student from Wellington selected for the main team! Next stop: team workshops in Auckland, then on to Lund, Sweden to compete against 40 teams from around the world.
A huge thanks to Physics teacher Kent Hogan for his support and guidance.

Q & A with Audrey Kung

We asked Audrey to answer some of our questions and tell us her story in her own words:

Why do you love physics?

I find the journey of exploring physics to be challenging yet rewarding. Learning physics requires reevaluating and expanding our current understanding of how the world works, which can be difficult to grasp. At the same time, this yields a great sense of accomplishment and a more profound appreciation of the universe as we make continuous discoveries and satisfy our thirst for knowledge. I am particularly fascinated by astrophysics, because it is personally awe-inspiring to study.

What are you most excited about being selected for the team?

I am most excited about the opportunities and experiences that joining the IYPT team brings- meeting teams across the world with a shared love for physics and conducting more research with my fellow NZ teammates. I am looking forward to the tournament in Sweden, which will be my first experience in Europe where teams will also have the chance to go on excursions together.

Do you see physics in your future? Are you thinking about a career in physics?

Yes, absolutely! I have been interested in studying Space since I was 4 years old, and I aim for a career in astrophysics after I obtain a PhD.

Anything else you’d like to tell us about physics at QMC?

For anyone interested in physics, I highly suggest for students in Years 10-11 to consider joining QMC's Junior Young Physicist's Tournament (JYPT) team, which is a simplified version of IYPT for teams throughout Australasia. I participated in JYPT when I was in Year 11, and it greatly helped to prepare me for IYPT and even the Physics IB Diploma course.

A big thanks to Audrey Kung for answering our questions.