Int'l Physics Olympiad opens road to success<\/p>\n
Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
It was a rare sight to see more than 300 high school students
\nfrom 69 countries jamming the spacious Bali International
\nConvention Center (BICC) in Nusa Dua resort area.<\/p>\n
The students, with their youthful enthusiasm, were not there
\nfor a concert or to watch an exhibition. They were taking part in
\nthe 33rd International Physics Olympiad held from July 22 through
\nJuly 29.<\/p>\n
Some students from Saudi Arabia looked confident in their
\ntraditional white robes, while students from Latvia looked hip
\nwith their punk hairstyles.<\/p>\n
\"It is refreshing to see their enthusiasm. Hosting these
\nteenage guests is very fun,\" said Levie Martin, BICC's public
\nrelations manager.<\/p>\n
The 33rd Physics Olympiad, held for the first time in
\nIndonesia, had been scheduled for Bandung, West Java. But it was
\nlater moved to Bali for certain reasons, including better
\nfacilities and security.<\/p>\n
\"The United States and Israel refused to attend the Olympiad
\nfor security reasons, while participants from Kenya failed to
\nshow up because of financial problems,\" said Dr. Triyanta, the
\nchairman of the organizing committee.<\/p>\n
Delegates from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) did not appear
\neither, even though they had registered.<\/p>\n
Participating countries included Iceland, Russia, the
\nNetherlands, Italy, Hungary, Denmark, Canada, Columbia, China,
\nChinese Taipei, Iran, India, Australia, Latvia, Pakistan,
\nVietnam, Singapore and Thailand.<\/p>\n
During the Olympiad, participants were accompanied by group
\nleaders, observers and even parents.<\/p>\n
For the competition, participating students were obliged to
\nperform written and experimental tests, which were tailored for
\nthem by members of international jurors.<\/p>\n
\"All the written material was translated and reinterpreted
\ninto the language of each delegate by its leaders. That way,
\nthere would be no language barrier,\" Triyanta said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian team, comprising five of the best students --
\nAgustinus Peter Sahanggamu, Widagdo Setiawan, Christopher
\nHendriks, Fajar Ardian and Evelyn Mintarno -- were lucky.<\/p>\n
\"We were familiar with the material, although there were some
\nmodifications here and there,\" said Peter. In this year's
\nOlympiad, the Indonesian team appeared confident in both written
\nand experimental examinations despite the presence of strong
\nteams, such as China, India, Russia and Iran.<\/p>\n
\"A number of participants looked really nervous especially
\nwhen they were required to carry out an experimental project.
\nThey have probably never tried this equipment before,\" explained
\nTriyanta.<\/p>\n
Members of the jurors combined the total points from the two
\nexaminations.<\/p>\n
In the event, 42 students, including three from Indonesia,
\nreceived gold medals, 37 students won silver medals and 58 got
\nbronze medals. The organizing committee also awarded 68 students
\nwith an honorable mention.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Indonesian team Yohanes Surya said Indonesian
\nstudents came equipped with the necessary know-how they obtained
\nduring their 10-month training to compete with fellow students
\nfrom overseas countries.<\/p>\n
\"I am very glad that they got three golds, one silver and a
\nbronze. But this Olympiad was more than just getting medals,\"
\nsaid Yohanes. The Olympiad was prime training ground for finding
\nnew talent and creating new Einsteins, new Newtons and other
\nprominent scientists in the field of physics.<\/p>\n
By participating in the Olympiad, Indonesian students had an
\nopportunity to plunge into the fierce and competitive world of
\nscience -- a chance that is rarely found at home. They had to
\ncompete with the best students from around the globe.<\/p>\n
\"It was the right time for Indonesian students to prove to the
\nworld that they must be accounted for,\" Yohanes said. The Physics
\nOlympiad was first held in Warsaw, Poland in l967.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesian students excel in these competitions,\" he said.
\nIndonesia has so far sent 50 students to the Olympiad since the
\ncountry first took part in the event in l993.<\/p>\n
\"All Indonesian Olympiad team alumni are studying at
\nprestigious universities around the world,\" Yohanes said.<\/p>\n
Some of the past team members are pursuing their doctorate
\ndegrees at famous universities, such as Princeton University, the
\nMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard, California
\nInstitute of Technology (Caltech), Leicester University and Tokyo
\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
\"Made Agus Wirawan, who won the first gold medal for Indonesia
\nin the l999 Olympiad in Padova, is now studying at the
\nprestigious Caltech university under the guidance of a Nobel
\nlaureate,\" Yohanes said proudly. Another former team member, Okky
\nGunawan, has also been lucky to work on his PhD at Princeton
\nUniversity under the close supervision of Prof. David Tsui, the
\nwinner of the l998 Nobel Prize for Physics.<\/p>\n
By studying at well-respected universities, these Indonesian
\nstudents closely interact with world class scientists and Nobel
\nprize winners.<\/p>\n
\"I am optimistic that by the year 2020 or later, one
\nIndonesian student will become a Nobel winner or at least, a
\nNobel candidate, provided they contribute distinguished work and
\ntheories. This is a very real possibility,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hendra Kwee, a former team member working on his PhD at the
\nCollege of William & Mary in Virginia, shared his experience.<\/p>\n
\"All past Indonesian team members have a strong networking
\nsystem. We would be glad to help or recommend other Indonesian
\nstudents to study at our universities,\" said Hendra, who returned
\nto Indonesia for holidays to help accompany and translate exam
\nmaterial for this year's participants.<\/p>\n
Yohanes said he often warned members on the home team to
\npursue high education abroad.<\/p>\n
\"But, don't ever, ever think of changing your citizenship. If
\nyou get a high achievement, you'll get it as an Indonesian
\nscientist and everybody in the country will be proud of you,\"
\nYohanes always tells his trainees.<\/p>",
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