Three students from Hai'an win the first prize in physics in the China division and advanced to the global finals of the 2024 S. T. Yau High School Science Award. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

On Dec 8, the 2024 S. T. Yau High School Science Award concluded at Tsinghua University, with three students from Jiangsu Hai'an Senior High School winning the first prize in physics in the China division and advancing to the global finals. Among the 14 physics teams in the competition, they were the only finalists from a county-level high school.

The team, comprising Shi Wenbo, Hong Xiaokai, and Zhao Yuhao, conducted a groundbreaking analysis of the web-building and hunting process of spiders. Leveraging the school's physics micro-research laboratory, the students spent over six months of their spare time developing a spider web model using rubber bands. Their research provided an innovative quantitative explanation of the web's vibration mechanisms, combining experimental and theoretical approaches.

The award, established in 2008 by renowned mathematician and Fields Medal recipient Shing-Tung Yau, is held annually by Tsinghua University. The global finals require participants to present their research in English, undergo rigorous questioning from judges, and have their mentors discuss the guidance process. The award aims to inspire scientific creativity, cultivate research interest, and enhance foundational scientific knowledge among young talent.