Janiru Liyanage is a 17-year-old school student with multiple accolades in mathematics, writing and speaking. His poetry has been internationally recognised, being the youngest poet nominated for a Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net Awards and Best New Poets (2021). His writing has been published / accepted in places such as The Australian (national newspaper), The Harvard Advocate, The Rumpus, Waxwing, DIAGRAM, Cordite Poetry Review, featured / anthologised in places such as Best Of Australian Poetry (Vol. 1), The Slowdown, (read by US Poet Laureate Ada Limon) and commissioned to write for places such as The Emerging Writer's Festival, Australian Poetry and The Wheeler's Centre. He co-founded and edits Hyades Magazine. His poetry is taught in the writing curriculum at Melbourne University, having given a lecture at the university for its Writers At the Frontline course. Alongside poetry, Janiru has won several accolades in international and national mathematical competitions including a gold medal in the APSMO, 3 times AMC prize winner, representing the State in the International Tournament of Towns respectively at the National Committee, and several other awards. He has also recently received a state rank in a 2021 HSC Exam, completing the course a year early (in year 11 as an accelerated course). In his 2022 HSC exams, where he took Extension 2 Maths, Chemistry, etc, Janiru received the highest possible ATAR of 99.95, and received several university scholarships, including the Chancellor's scholarship from the University of Sydney, the Co-op scholarship for actuarial studies and the Scientia scholarship from UNSW, and scholarships from various US and UK universities. He has honours in drama and film making. His film work has been selected and anthologised in places such as Audition Material Young People | Samuel French LTD (Camilo Castelo Branco University). |