OSA Ambassador - Isaac

Get to know Isaac!

How did you first get involved in OSA?
I first got involved with OSA when I was in Reception. I heard about the competition at Highgate Primary and decided to take part. For the first few years, I received highly commended recognition for my entries, which motivated me to continue to participate and improve. As a result, I successfully won first place prizes for my entries over multiple years. My experience with OSA has been positive, and I will definitely continue to participate each year.

Why do you participate?
During my early journey in OSA competitions, I decided to focus mainly on the multimedia category because of my parents’ experience in the field. My first multimedia was a stop motion video of chocolate Lego figures explaining chocolate melting points. I motivate myself by making videos related to food so that I always get to eat after making my videos and that I get to see the results of my efforts.

After a few years of focusing on multimedia, I decided to try Science Writing. This category is closely related to the multimedia category, where I apply my previous experience of keeping my audience interested in my content.

I have always been very interested in science, and OSA is an opportunity to present my knowledge and to learn more in a fun and competitive setting. It also teaches me a great deal each year and allows me to further improve.

What advice would you give to other OSA entrants?
My advice is to find a topic that you are interested in and think of who your audience is. You shouldn’t aim or expect to win but focus on having fun while learning new things. Take your time to understand the rubric and criteria for your category to guide your submission. Try your best to reflect on the new things you learn.

The skills you learn in the competition can also help with your daily life. For example, my multimedia skills have made me more confident at public speaking and memorisation of facts. I also use my skills to help make my school homework more interesting. My Oliphant Science Award journey has also helped me to build my research skills over the years

What is your favourite project that you have submitted?
My favourite project that I have submitted was probably my multimedia entry of Science behind Pork Crackling. I really enjoyed making that video and especially eating afterwards. I learnt a great deal about osmosis and pH levels in that particular year, and I still apply this knowledge years later! This project motivated me to continue in my passion to learn more about food science.