A former student at Westbourne School, Anthony Phung (Class of 2021), is celebrating after winning the top prize in a prestigious international science competition attracting the best scientific minds from across the world.

Now in his second year studying Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, Anthony and a team of five other students from the Cambridge University Synthetic Biology Society (CUSBS) claimed a gold medal in this year's International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition, known as iGEM. The global competition in synthetic biology sees students from across the globe use bioengineering toolkits to solve a real-life problem, ranging from therapeutics to manufacturing to climate crisis.

Anthony said: "I am very proud of this Gold Award! My summer was amazing - I learnt so much about the way of a synthetic biologist. One of my ultimate takeaways is: "Don't be a stereotypical scientist who spends all their life in the lab. Be a communicator, an entrepreneur, a world-changer."

"Destined to make a significant impact"

Anthony flourished as a student whilst studying at the Penarth school, attaining an exceptional 45 Points in the IB Diploma - the very highest score available. Westbourne is an IB-only Sixth Form, advocating that the rigorous global programme provides students with an advantage over their A Level peers in both university applications and careers, creating the leaders of the future.

Awarded IB Diploma School of the Year 2019, IB Sixth Form at Westbourne is an immersive experience in academic excellence, attracting the best young minds from a broad local and international community, such as Anthony who joined the school from Vietnam.

Lisa Phillips, Westbourne's Head of Sixth Form, said: "Anthony was an outstanding student whilst studying the IB Diploma Programme with us at Westbourne, and we knew then that he was destined to make a significant impact in the field of science. "As a sixth form student, coming to us from Vietnam, Anthony took part in Olympiads and academic competitions across the whole country, often receiving gold awards for both biology and chemistry. He worked closely with our teachers to finesse his longer-term ambitions, which ultimately took him to one of the best universities in the world. We are so proud of him."

A role model for Penarth students

Anthony has kept in close contact with the Westbourne community whilst at university. Since starting at Cambridge, he has even found the time to mentor current Westbourne students, helping with revision sessions, and coaching them for Olympiad competitions.

Anthony continued: "Following my experience at iGEM, I was fortunate to receive lots of research opportunities. I am happy to share that, in recognition of my achievement, I was chosen to undertake an exchange programme at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) next summer 2023, where I will take on other challenges in the field and develop myself further as a researcher."