BARI – From Puglia to the European Physics Olympics among the five best Italian students: here is the story of Giovanni Antonucci, student of the “Galilei” of Bitonto, with the dream of the “Normal” of Pisa. The young student will be in Georgia from 15 to 19 July after his high school diploma to challenge the best minds in Europe.
Passion, dedication and a lot of study. Elements all applied to physics to find oneself among the five Italian representatives who will be involved in the European Physics Olympics in mid-July. Giovanni, after a year of competitions at all levels up to the national level and at the training seminar in Sassoferrato at the end of May, reached the prestigious goal in what will be the eighth edition of the European Physics Olympics which will take place in Kutaisi.
«It’s a great emotion because above all it was unexpected – explained Giovanni Antonucci – I didn’t even expect to be among the top five students, especially due to the difficulty of an experimental test. Having managed to face a test that presented important innovations in some schemes and some topics made me very satisfied.”
«I have to thank Professor Avlijas and this high school because this passion was born here – explained Giovanni Antonucci – I have always liked mathematics since elementary school, it was my favorite subject and the one I enjoyed the most, but the passion for physics was born here. I also want to thank a person who represented a point of reference in my journey, namely Prof. Luigi Verolino”.
His is the story of many kids whose passion for a subject was first born in the family and then cultivated thanks to encounters with the school and the teachers. Then a lot of study and the desire to surpass himself and grow, a spirit that accompanied Giovanni in all phases of this long competition, organized in Italy by mandate of the Ministry of Education, by the Association for the Teaching of Physics. From victories at school and territorial level, up to access to the regional and national stages. Now we will first have to face the final exams before the future dream.
«I hope to be able to pass the admission to the “Normal” School of Pisa, this is my dream – said Giovanni – because I believe that it is the environment that best reflects my desires in terms of study and in-depth study but also on a social level.”
Giovanni Antonucci will therefore represent Italy at the European Olympics. Italy which is not participating in the International Olympics as a precaution considering that they will take place in Iran. But the event which will be held in Georgia from 15 to 19 July represents a source of pride for the entire Bitonto institute. «I believe that it is important especially for children – explains Angela Pastoressa, Headmaster of the “Galileo Galilei” Scientific High School in Bitonto – because these situations demonstrate that commitment is rewarded and therefore we must always insist on the path of commitment and will ».
Alongside Giovanni’s victories, among other things, a real Physics team was born at the “Galilei” which now aims to create a real center of excellence in the Apulian territory alongside other historic points of reference for the subject . «I am happy to realize that the fuse that ignited Giovanni’s desire to undertake this path with passion and dedication was born here in the teaching of Physics – explains Professor Tatiana Avlijas, professor of Physics at the institute – and it was a fire that involved other kids because a team was created around Giovanni.”
«Thanks to Giovanni’s ability to also involve other students from our school – explained Professor Grazia Murgolo, teacher of Mathematics at the institute – we were able to really compare ourselves with many kids and experience these emotions of sharing and comparison».
