3 July 2013

The world’s best students of informatics – the science underlying computing, communication and the Internet – are competing in Australia for the first time and Chief Scientist Ian Chubb is urging the nation to get behind our team.

Competitors from 80 countries will travel to Brisbane for the International OIympiad in Informatics (IOI 2013) from the 6^th to the 13^th of July.

“Australians love getting behind those representing them and this event gives them the chance to do that,’’ Professor Chubb said.

“Our team – Michael Chen, Ishraq Huda, Ray Li and James Payor and coaches Jarrah Lacko and Luke Harrison – have already proven themselves the best in Australia. Now they go up against the world’s best,’’ he said.

Australia has competed in the International OIympiad in Informatics since 1999. Last year the Australian team won one silver and two bronze medals.

The contest includes computer programming and solving complex problems, with students competing on individual and team levels.

“If the digital economy is an arena, then the skills you need to play include computer programming and coding. Informatics gives us these skills and this event highlights the global nature and ferocity of the competition,’’ Professor Chubb said.

IOI 2013 is being run by the not-for-profit Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT) and hosted by the University of Queensland.

The AMT also ran the national selection trials and will train the Australian team.

For more information about the event and to arrange interviews with the Australian team, contact Janine Bavin on 02 9953 5054 or 0417 291 583

Chief Scientist media enquiries: Mick Bunworth 02 6102 8179 or 0410 029 407 or Alexis Cooper (02) 6213 6723 Mick.Bunworth@chiefscientist.gov.au or Alexis.Cooper@chiefscientist.gov.au

You can download a PDF of the media release here