July 8, 2010 | 11:09 am

Israeli student wins physics gold

Posted by Adam Wills

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Eli Goudinevsky, a 12th-grader from Amit High School in Beer Sheva, learned today that he was one of five students who won gold in a global high school physics competition called the First Step to Nobel Prize in Physics. Three other students from Israel—Evelyn Jenis from Beersheba, Daniel Achdut from Netanya and Dorin Yerhi from Arad—took silver during the contest organized by the Institute of Physics-Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, which draws participants from 75 countries.

From YNet:

The winning research was conducted by Goudinevsky in the laboratory of Prof. Nathan Kleeorin at Ben-Gurion University.

“My physics teacher at school and the Ilan Ramon Youth Physics Center at Ben-Gurion University gave me the tools and helped me realize by potential,” Goudinevsky said.

The Ilan Ramon Youth Physics Center plays a large role in the success of students from the south in this competition. For instance, Hadas Tzaban from Netivot won the gold medal last year.

This year’s contestants were mentored by Prof. Victor Malamud, a physics teacher at Amit High School in Beersheba and the head of the Ilan Ramon Youth Physics Center.

“This is a big achievement,” said Prof. Malamud on Thursday. “These young scientists are the future of the country.”

Dr. Amnon Eldar said that the Israeli winners would be awarded prizes in recognition of their outstanding achievements. “These students are a symbol of excellence,” he said.

As part of his prize, Goudinevsky will work alongside research fellows at the Institute of Physics during an upcoming four-week enrichment program.