Latest news with #SilverMedal
IOL News
2 days ago
- Science
- IOL News
South African team shines at International Mathematics Olympiad with record-breaking performance
The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) is celebrating a historic achievement as the national team secured its best ranking in 25 years at the recent International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) held in Australia from 10 to 20 July. Competing against high school students from over 100 countries, the South African contingent finished in an impressive 38th place, showcasing the exceptional talent and dedication of its young mathematicians. Every year, the IMO presents a formidable challenge, testing the mathematical prowess of students through complex problems over two intense days. Each participant tackles three problems for 4½ hours each day, demonstrating not only individual expertise but also the ability to perform under pressure. This year, South African students faced tough competition from powerhouse teams, including those from the People's Republic of China, the United States, and the Republic of Korea, yet they rose to the occasion with remarkable skill. The results were outstanding, with six students proudly bringing home awards. Youkyum Kim, a Grade 12 student from Reddam House Durbanville in Cape Town, earned a Silver Medal. Meanwhile, Moied Baleg from The Settlers High School in Bellville, Eli Williams from Westerford High School in Cape Town, Pocoyo Pun from Elkanah House in Cape Town, Yian Xu from Redhill High School in Sandton, and Ellen Grant-Smith from Westerford High School also excelled, each receiving Bronze Medals or an Honourable Mention. Professor Seithuti Moshokoa, Executive Director of SAMF, expressed tremendous pride in the team's performance. 'We're so pleased with how our team did this year. They worked really hard, and this achievement shows just how talented they are,' he remarked. His sentiments reflect the dedication and passion for mathematics that propelled these students to success. The pathway to this achievement was supported by Old Mutual South Africa, highlighting the importance of institutional backing in nurturing talent in mathematics. The competition's rigorous format ensures fairness, with leaders and teachers meticulously checking answers after the event to confirm accurate scoring. As a non-profit organisation established in 2004, SAMF is committed to enhancing mathematical excellence across the nation. By fostering an environment that encourages professional development for educators and promotes mathematical advancement, SAMF plays a pivotal role in shaping a future rich in innovation across various sectors, including science, business, finance, and engineering. This year's achievements at the IMO not only reflect the individual brilliance of the students but also the collective effort in building a solid mathematical foundation across South Africa. With the momentum gained from this success, SAMF's future initiatives will be crucial in sustaining and amplifying this talent pool, offering excellent prospects for the continued advancement of mathematics in the region.
Scotsman
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
The Open 2025: Scottie Scheffler's revelation, the Scot being backed and Tom McKibbin
The latest from Royal Portrush ahead of The Open Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Our golf correspondent reports from the media centre and also digs out some stories behind the scenes at Royal Portrush. Family comes first for world No 1 Scottie Scheffler Scottie Scheffler is riding high at the top of the world rankings on the back of an incredible three-year spell, but he'll always put wife Meredith and son Bennett first. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'My responsibility is to my family and that's where my priorities lie,' declared the American. 'I love being able to come out here and compete, but does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? Absolutely not.' World No 1 Scottie Scheffler speaks to the media during a press conference prior to The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush |Scheffler was responding to a question about playing more of an international schedule, having been limited so far to Genesis Scottish Open appearances. 'Yeah, I'd love to be able to travel the world and play golf. There's a time and a place for that, and right now, with the way my life is, it's not really the time or the place,' he said. Connor Graham has been heavily backed to finish as the leading amateur at Royal Portrush | The R&A Punters fancy Connor Graham to be top amateur Punters have been piling on Blairgowrie teenager Connor Graham to claim the Silver Medal for leading amateur. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Oddschecker, an odds comparison website, revealed on Tuesday that 51 per cent of all the bets for top amateur have been placed on the 18-year-old. Graham is 11/2 in the betting market for the coveted prize claimed last year at Royal Troon by Nairn's Calum Scott. Cameron Adam, the second Scottish amateur in the field, is a 7-1 shot. As for their hopes of pulling off a Claret Jug win, Graham is listed at 2000-1 while Adam is 2500-1. Northern Irish trio Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Tom McKibbin pictured during a practice round together at Royal Portrush on Tuesday | AFP via Getty Images Local hero Tom McKibbin has 'all the tools to succeed' Rory McIlroy may be the centre of attention for the home fans but Tom McKibbin, his Holywood clubmate, could give them something to shout about as well this week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I don't know what it is about Northern Ireland, but they have two of the most beautiful golf swings ever produced in golf,' said Jon Rahm of McIlroy and McKibbin. McKibbin joined Rahm's Legion XIII team in the LIV Golf League this season and has now been part in three title triumphs, the latest coming on Sunday at Valderrama. 'He's a fantastic golfer in general,' added Rahm of the 25-year-old. 'He's got all the tools he needs to succeed in this game, and so far in his early career, he's done so.' The Open is the best value for fans among the four majors in terms of the cost of tickets, according to Betway | AFP via Getty Images It's official! The Open offers best ticket value The Open offers the best value for golf fans in terms of the cost of tickets out of the four men's majors. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bookmakers Betway - - compared the total four-day tickets prices for the game's biggest events in 2025 and it delivered some good news for the Claret Jug joust.
Otago Daily Times
14-07-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Scientist's contributions recognised
Sue Grimmond has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. PHOTO SUPPLIED A leading environmental scientist and University of Otago graduate has been elected to one of the world's most distinguished scientific bodies. University of Reading atmospheric and oceanic sciences Prof Sue Grimmond has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society, for her pioneering research on the interactions between urban environments and the atmosphere, which has significantly advanced the field of urban climatology. She is one of just 90 outstanding researchers from across the world, elected to join the Royal Society — the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences — as recognition for their substantial contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge. Prof Grimmond was humbled by the recognition, but also "very honoured". "It reflects the enormous contributions from my research group and everyone I have collaborated with during my career, and who have supported and inspired this work." After studying physical geography and graduating with a Bachelor of Sciences degree at the University of Otago in 1980, she completed her Master of Sciences and PhD in climatology and hydrology at the University of British Columbia, in Canada, where she studied the movement of water vapour in towns and cities. She then worked at Indiana University, in the United States, and King's College, in London, before joining the University of Reading in 2013. At Reading, she holds the position of Met Office joint chair, building links between academic research and weather forecasters. Prof Grimmond is the author of more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, focusing on urban climate, land-surface modelling and hydroclimatology, and she has pioneered understanding about the exchange of heat and moisture between the atmosphere and urban surfaces, such as buildings and roads. As well as leading research projects, she has served as president of the International Association for Urban Climate, she was awarded a European Meteorological Society (EMS) Silver Medal in 2024 for her work in urban meteorology, and was the first female recipient of the Symons Gold Medal in 2020 for her outstanding work in urban climatology.
Scotsman
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
'Amazing' Bob MacIntyre's buddy relationship helps 21y
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Cameron Adam is excited to be teeing up alongside his mentor, Bob MacIntyre, in the 153rd Open and is hoping they won't be the only Scots competing in the season's final major at Royal Portrush. The 21-year-old Royal Burgess player secured his spot in the Claret Jug event by winning The Open Amateur Series, emulating Calum Scott, who went on to claim the Silver Medal for the leading amateur in last year's event at Royal Troon. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Adam won the St Andrews Links Trophy, the first of three tournaments in the battle for a coveted spot in the world's oldest major, before then failing to make the match-play phase of The Amateur Championship at Royal St George's. Fellow left-handers Bob MacIntyre and Cameron Adam have been part of a 'buddy' initiative set up by Bounce Sport | Bounce Sport It was mission accomplished, though, after he recorded a top-ten finish in the European Amateur Championship at Vasatorps in Sweden on Saturday to top the points table ahead of Finland's Sakke Siltala and fellow Scot Niall Shiels Donegan. 'I didn't make it easy after my week down at The Amateur, but it was good to get it done out in Sweden,' Adam told The Scotsman. 'All of it was really pleasing, to be honest. The first day was so hard just trying to keep it together to give myself a chance when the weather broke a bit. Yeah, it was a great week on a great course.' Adam, the 2023 Scottish Amateur champion, has secured his major debut after coming to the end of a four-year stint at the University of Northwestern in Illinois and is hoping to play in the Walker Cup in California in September before embarking on a professional career. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad * Scottish Open offer - use the code GOLF50 to get our brilliant Scottish Golf Courses You Must Play newsletter for half price {{cta('186439453527')}} 'It's a bonus, 100 per cent,' he added of his dream opportunity. 'You enter qualifying every year with the aim of trying to get in, but it is definitely a massive bonus at this stage of my career and I am massively excited about it. 'I've never been to Portrush. In fact, my first time playing in Ireland was at Ballyliffin last year for The Amateur Championship. It will be a nice little second trip across to Ireland.' Nairn man Scott, who has just started his professional career, beat 11 players to win the Silver Medal in last year's event, becoming the first Scot to land the honour since Sam Locke at Carnoustie in 2018. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cameron Adam secured his spot in the 153rd Open by winning The R&A's Amateur Series | The R&A 'That's my goal,' admitted Adam. 'As much as it is a cool experience and a great opportunity, I believe I can go there and compete, especially for that Silver Medal. Yeah, it is business first.' MacIntyre was the sole Scot in The Masters, PGA Championship and US Open and, while delighted to be joining him on this occasion, Adam is hoping a few more players will be flying the Saltire on the County Antrim coast in a fortnight's time. 'Look, I'm sure we would love to have a lot more Scottish players in the field,' he said. 'It would be great for Scottish golf if that was the case, but it's exciting for me to be the second Scottish name on that tee sheet beside Bob, especially after he's done so much the last couple of years. At the same time, though, I'll be trying to focus on my own tournament over there first and foremost.' Adam's mentorship from MacIntyre has been through the Stephen Gallacher Foundation and Bounce Sport, which not only manages MacIntyre but also Calum Hill, Grant Forrest and Stephen Gallacher among others. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Bob has been great with me,' declared Stephen Gallacher Foundation ambassdor Adam, an Edinburgh man who now lives in Fife. 'We message back and forth. He's helped me out a little bit the last couple of years. Hopefully we can get a practice round together and I can learn some more from him. He's been amazing to me and it's great what he's been doing with me.' Though Adam no longer needs to take part in Tuesday's Open Final Qualifying at Dundonald Links, he'll be watching the scores to see how a Royal Burgess clubmate and Northwestern team-mate gets on in the 36-hole shoot-out for five spots. 'Archie Finnie is down at Dundonald, so I will be keeping a close eye on him,' he said. Adam will be on Scotland duty the week before The Open when he joins forces with Shiels Donegan, Andrew Davidson, Alexander Farmer, Connor Graham and Gregor Tait at the European Men's Team Championship in Killarney. When he steps on to the first tee at Royal Portrush, though, he'll be flying the flag for Royal Burgess. Cameron Adam's win in the St Andrews Links Trophy helped set up his major debut at Royal Portrush in a fortnight's time | St Andrews Links Trust 'The club has been amazing and I am super proud to represent the club,' he said of the historic Barnton club, where he has played the bulk of his golf coming through the amateur ranks. 'It is a great club and they have done a lot for me, so I am excited to wear the logo at The Open and going forward as well.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As for who'll be cheering him from outside the ropes in Northern Ireland, he admitted: 'It's been a mad scramble for tickets and accommodation, but it's a welcome scramble. Everyone is excited for it.'
Business Wire
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
GOOD* Distillations Launches Weekender Wheat Whisky, Produced in an Earth-friendly Paper Bottle
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Good Distillations is proud to announce its first product, Weekender Wheat whisky, is now available in limited quantities at select retail outlets and directly to consumers in 46 states through its website, Coinciding with its launch, Weekender Wheat whisky was awarded a Silver Medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the industry's most prestigious blind-tasting events. Award-winning Weekender Wheat whisky has launched in a paper bottle, perfect for sipping outdoors. Share 'Good Distillations was established to create earth-friendly, portable spirits, perfect for enjoying outdoors with friends, and we believe Weekender Wheat represents an important step forward for both wheat whisky and fireside enjoyment,' said Weston Twigg, co-founder. "Winning a medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is an incredible honor, and it reflects the long hours and attention to detail our team put into creating Weekender Wheat, which is now an award-winning whisky.' Good Distillations produced Weekender Wheat with the goal of creating an approachable whisky with a rich flavor profile. The Tasting Alliance called it 'a light and approachable expression that opens with soft vanilla and oak on the nose, introduces gentle notes of toast, breadcrumbs, and a hint of spice on the palate, and finishes smoothly with a hint of honey.' Good Distillations crafts its whisky in small batches with soft red winter wheat and barley, and the result is a uniquely American whisky that stands out among shelves filled with corn-based varieties. We believe Weekender Wheat is the first wheat whisky in North America available in a paper bottle, which is made from 100% recycled paperboard, while an interior liner protects the whisky and maintains flavor. This creates the perfect lightweight, shatterproof container to bring Weekender Wheat along on any adventure, from backyard barbecues to campouts and beyond. To celebrate, Good Distillations is offering a 15% discount for online sales through July 7 th. When your Weekender Wheat arrives, we recommend trying a whisky highball on a warm summer afternoon: one-part Weekender Wheat, three-parts soda-water, fill with ice and enjoy! About Good Distillations Good Distillations (Good Distillations Company LLC) was founded to create earth-friendly, portable spirits. Tales of adventure, mistakes made, and legends born begin with Good Distillations. More information can be found at Please enjoy responsibly.
