Donald White’s journey from a standout physics competitor to an innovative experimental physicist highlights the transformative power of academic competitions.
In 2008, Donald represented New Zealand at the International Young Physicists competition in Croatia, where his team secured an impressive second-place finish. This experience honed his analytical skills and ignited a lifelong passion for pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery.
While he was no stranger to school physics competitions, Donald says competing at the IYPT was significantly more challenging.
“We went to training camps and learned how to solve problems together. That meant we learned about our different personalities and approaches, and how to work together as a team.”
Where many would find competing alongside the world’s best young physicists intimidating, Donald says it was exciting to be around people from all corners of the globe who shared a common interest.
“The IYPT competition was a really important part of my life and pushed me into pursuing physics. It inspires healthy competition; it pushes you to be better and introduces new and interesting solutions to problems. It definitely inspired me to use the principles and technology to make a substantial difference in the world.
Today, Donald is at the forefront of quantum technology, working at Q-CTRL in Australia to develop next-generation quantum sensors. His career trajectory, which includes groundbreaking research on ultracold atoms and quantum chaos during his PhD, can be traced back to the critical thinking and problem-solving skills he developed during those early competition days.
He says his motivation has remained the same throughout his study and career.
“It’s curiosity about the world and how it works. There’s a misconception that physicists are smart people that know everything, but I don’t agree. Physicists are people that ask lots of questions about what they don’t understand.”
Fundamentally, says Donald, physics teaches you that if there’s a problem or something you want to understand, you can break it down into analysable chunks.
Donald’s journey highlights how curiosity, nurtured through academic competitions, can ignite a lifelong passion for discovery, ultimately driving innovation in cutting-edge fields like quantum technology
Thanks to our volunteer writer, Kate Palmern for composing this profile.