- Chinese Physics Olympiad – First Class Award, Hong Kong (2024)
- Asian Physics Olympiad – Honourable Mention (2023)
- Pan-Pearl River Delta and Chinese Elite Schools Physics Olympiad – First Runner-up, Hong Kong (2023)
- American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10 – Distinction (2022)
- International Mathematical Olympiad Preliminary Selection Contest Hong Kong – Gold Award (2022)
Ever since my first encounter with physics, I have been fascinated by its beauty and have seen studying physics as the pursuit of truth. Inspired by the thirst for knowledge of generations of physicists, I once fervently believed that the principal objective of physics lies in satisfying humanity’s desire to understand the world around us. German mathematician David Hilbert once said, “We must know. We will know.” This was my motto during my first few years of studying physics, propelling me further along my journey of exploration.
Fuelled by my interest in the physics of fluids, I participated in the Hong Kong Gifted Apprentice Programme (organized by the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education) in Form 4, and was fortunate to have conducted a study on the applications of fluid mechanics in Earth and climate sciences under the mentorship of Professor Amos Tai from the CUHK. Through the process, I discovered how climatic phenomena that have a huge impact on human activities, such as polar front jet streams and mid-latitude eddies in atmospheric airflow, are all governed by principles in fluid mechanics. I therefore understood how physics is applied in environmental sciences and its pivotal role in predicting macroscopic climatic patterns.
It was not until then that I realized how naïve I was to think that the sole purpose of physics is to satisfy individuals’ curiosity—instead, physics allows us to contribute to the long-term development of mankind by driving scientific progress. Henceforth, I started to delve deeper into the field of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, which bolstered my determination to pursue an academic career and alleviate the challenges brought by climate change as a climate scientist in the future.
To me, being an ‘Outstanding Student’ is not just to further my pursuit of knowledge, but also to give back to society as I deepen my understanding of our world. This is indeed a distal goal, but that is precisely why I see this as the lifelong goal I will dedicate towards in the long run. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my parents, teachers, and Prof. Tai for their unwavering guidance, as well as all of my friends for their support over the past years. With passion and humility, I will continue to devote myself to scientific research, so that I can make an impact in the future and serve the global community as a proud member of the OSA family.