Three of Australia’s most talented high school science students representing Australia at the International Earth Science Olympiad in Brazil have won gold and silver medals, putting them in the top echelon of earth and environmental science students in the world.

The students, who all attended two weeks of summer school at ANU as part of the selection process for the competition, sat gruelling practical and theory exams spanning all areas of earth sciences, including geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy and environmental science.

It is the toughest competition of its kind in the world for high school students.

Sydney’s Zoe Thompson from Redlands School is the only girl in the world to win a gold medal in the competition involving 91 students from 22 countries. Joining her on the podium to receive silver medals were Sacha Mann from Girton Grammar School in Bendigo, Victoria, and Tim Hume from Mansfield Secondary College, Victoria.

The gold medal puts Zoe in the top ten per cent of earth science students in the world, and the silver medals rank Sacha and Tim in the top 30 per cent. Tim’s success comes on the back of being announced as a 2016 recipient of a prestigious Tuckwell Scholarship from ANU.

Zoe Thompson’s gold medal rounds off a great year for Australian girls’ achievement in science on the international stage. Almost half the talented students selected to represent Australia at the 2015 International Science Olympiads were girls, which is the highest representation of girls since Australia began competing.

The students who competed at the International Earth Science Olympiad were among a total of 17 high-achieving secondary students who competed at four International Science Olympiads this year. Australian teams at the chemistry, biology and physics competitions, brought home 11 further medals.

The Australian Science Olympiads Program is supported by ANU, the Australian Government Department of Education and Training and BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities.