Reaching for the Stars: Audrey Kung Shines on International Physics Stage


Following months of rigorous preparation, Year 13 student Audrey Kung competed as part of the New Zealand team at the International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT) in Sweden this winter, returning home with an honourable mention. Among 36 global teams, New Zealand placed 19th overall – earning the top score within the honourable mention bracket and placing above teams from Australia, the USA, and the UK. They were one of the highest-ranking teams from the Southern Hemisphere, just shy of a bronze.

Audrey was competing against a constellation of the world’s brightest and most advanced high school physicists – making the team’s achievement all the more impressive.

Her selection followed standout performances in the New Zealand Young Physicists’ Tournament (NZYPT), where she and teammates Yovela Li and Teija Joronen placed third nationally. Audrey’s efforts secured her a spot among 12 shortlisted candidates and ultimately a place on the five-member team representing Aotearoa New Zealand – the only competitor from Wellington, and the first QMC student to reach this level.

She credits physics teacher and mentor Kent Hogan and Year 13 classmate Renee Heatherington for their unwavering support. Behind every rising star are mentors who help illuminate the path – and together, the trio spent countless hours conducting experiments and gathering data in preparation for the competition. “I couldn’t have done it without

them”, Audrey says.

Competing on the world stage expanded Audrey’s insight into both the discipline and herself. “The journey of exploring physics is challenging yet rewarding”, she reflects. “It yields a more profound appreciation of the universe.”

Audrey’s passion for space began at age four, andshe continues to lay the foundations for a career in astrophysics. With IYPT now part of her story – and her sights still set on a PhD – she’s turning early fascination into focused ambition, charting a steady course toward the stars, one achievement at a time. From early stargazer to global contender – Audrey’s passion for physics is propelling her forward.

“The journey of exploring physics is challenging yet rewarding”