By Christopher Harris
Anubhav Ammangi finished HSC advanced maths two years ahead of schedule, has represented the nation in engineering competitions, and can solve a Rubik’s cube in under 10 seconds.
Now he has topped the state in software design and development, as well as chemistry – a subject he dropped, thinking it would probably be quite dull, before picking it back up.
“The workload was quite high, and I was thinking that after having already done two subjects earlier, I could just do less and focus more on the few remaining subjects,” he said.
However, at the urging of his parents, the Redeemer Baptist School student changed his mind.
“Now, it’s probably one of my favourite subjects that I did,” he said.
If Anubhav’s name sounds familiar, it might be because last year he also came first in mathematics extension 1. He has also been spoken about on the floor of NSW Parliament, where the local MP Monica Tudehope last month singled him out for praise.
Anubhav Ammangi from Redeemer Baptist School, who has topped HSC chemistry and software design and development, after coming first in extension 1 maths last year.Credit: James Brickwood
Anubhav has received a perfect score at the Oxford University Computing Challenge, a prize in the French-Australian Regional Informatics Olympiad and was selected to represent the nation at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Texas last year. For that, his entry, How long is a piece of string, examined three methods for calculating the length of a curved path.
His interest in the mathematics of string was sparked by his year 10 science teacher, who introduced him to the Steinhaus longimeter– a unique geometric method of measuring the length of a curved line.
“From there, I started thinking about how accurate this method would be - I then researched and considered several other methods of achieving the same goal, and thought about the idea of comparing the methods based on their accuracy, efficiency and practicality,” he said.
But perhaps his most impressive achievement is with the Rubik’s Cube – he can solve one in 9.6 seconds. Or in 24 seconds with just one hand.
He has done other very difficult things in remarkably short periods of time – at the end of year 8, he finished year 9 and year 10 mathematics coursework as part of an accelerated program. He started doing year 11 work in year 9.
“To be able to have, like, the extra challenge in school through the accelerator program was really fun for me, and I really enjoyed it,” he said.
For the HSC, Anubhav did chemistry alongside just one other student. His teacher, Jenelle Seaman, helped him move through the course very quickly.
“Then we would use the spare time to just play around and experiment,” he said.
“I do enjoy seeing how, like, all the things we do in chemistry can explain a lot of our day-to-day stuff. So, for example, explaining how soaps work.”
While Anubhav has placed first in course in three subjects, his main goal was never simply getting good marks.
“I never really did tutoring, just because I more enjoy doing it for myself, and enjoying figuring stuff out, challenging myself, struggling if I needed to, and hopefully working it out in the end,” he said.
His parents were a big support, as were all his teachers, including his software teacher Tim Bailey.
His approach to studying involved writing every mistake he made during study time down on a list (he’d review the list before a big exam), while his other methods were less conventional – he liked to walk around his house while reading his notes. His overarching attitude to schoolwork was one of curiosity.
“Curious beyond just the scope of the schoolwork,” he said.
“Sometimes I go down rabbit holes on Wikipedia, just reading about different topics. But then also, like, you have to be able to just like, kind of stop yourself from doing that sometimes, and knuckle down to the actual course content,” he said.
He plans to keep up his mathematical skills by studying a dual degree of mathematics and computer science at the University of NSW next year, and is contemplating working in artificial intelligence and possibly studying overseas.
“I’m just really interested in it, like reading about it, looking up things about it, and I’ve done a little bit of it in programs and things, but I would like to develop on that further,” he said.
All HSC students are invited to celebrate their achievements tomorrow when they receive their results. Email us at education@smh.com.au.
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