RI students shine at science Olympiad<\/p>\n
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Cash-strapped Indonesia has uncovered a new and rich deposit of
\nfuture scientists after its team of 12 students romped home with
\nsix gold medals at the 2nd International Junior Science Olympiad
\n(IJSO) that closed on Monday.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian students, who also collected five silver and
\ntwo bronze medals, eclipsed competitors from 33 other countries,
\nincluding Taiwan, Russia and South Korea, which finished second,
\nthird and fourth respectively in the annual event.<\/p>\n
Yosua Michael Maranatha gave Indonesia an extra laurel as he
\nwon the coveted Absolute Winner trophy, the most prestigious
\naward in the competition. He was also named the Best Theory
\nWinner.<\/p>\n
\"Of course I'm happy. This is very encouraging,\" said 15-year-
\nold Yosua, a graduate of the Stella Duce junior high school in
\nYogyakarta, after receiving the awards.<\/p>\n
Yosua has been admitted to the State Senior High School No. 3
\nin the sultanate town, but has never attended classes there as he
\nhad to undergo intensive training for the IJSO at Karawaci in
\nTangerang, Banten starting April, along with his teammates.<\/p>\n
It was a back-to-back success for Indonesia, which collected
\neight gold medals in the inaugural event in Jakarta last year.<\/p>\n
But Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo, who closed
\nthe competition, said the fact that Indonesia had won less golds
\nthis time around did not reflect a setback.<\/p>\n
\"I don't consider it a decline in our achievements. For me,
\nit's just a consequence of the increasing number of the
\nparticipating countries, including eastern European countries
\nthat have a very strong tradition of science,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Compared to last year's event which saw 29 countries
\nparticipating, there were 34 nations represented this year.<\/p>\n
Yohanes Surya, the man behind the national team's success,
\nagreed with Bambang. Surya said all the participating countries
\nwere well prepared for the tough competition.<\/p>\n
\"Last year we were the most prepared team. If we want to
\nmaintain our performance next year, we will have to devote more
\ntime to the preparations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Surya, also the President of the Indonesian Physics Olympiad
\nTeam, suggested that the selection of students for the 2006 IJSO
\nin Sao Paulo, Brazil, start in January.<\/p>\n
Taiwan won five gold medals and a silver medal, with Russia
\ntaking three gold and three silver medals and South Korea bagging
\ntwo gold and four silver medals.<\/p>\n
Indonesia won its gold medals from Yosua, Arie Prasetyo, David
\nHalim, M. Firmansyah Kasim, Richtia Winnerdy and Winson. The
\nsilvers came from Alwi Alfiansyah, Michael Agung Pradana, Saifur
\nRizal, and Thomas A. Nugraha, while the bronzes were from Ratih
\nTri Utami and Yessi Martha.<\/p>\n
Organizers awarded the Best Experiment awards to Chin-Yu Chien
\nand Yu-Chi Yeh of Taiwan, Kalpit Tarang Dixit and Sanchit Kiran
\nDeshmukh of India and Mikhail Proskurin of Russia.<\/p>\n
The Best Performer awards went to Samuel David Millner of
\nBritain, Manal Sakun Easa of the United Arab Emirates,
\nRasolondraibe Ando Nantenaina of Madagascar, Bridget Durowa Antwi
\nBoasiako of Ghana, Mohammed Ahmed Hasen of Saudi Arabia, and
\nFahad Nayf Al Harbi of Kuwait.<\/p>\n
A total of 280 students took part in the week-long
\ncompetition, which was opened by President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono on Monday last week.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-students-shine-at-science-olympiad-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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