International Physics Olympiad opens

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

President Megawati Soekarnoputri (photo above, left) gives encouragement to Indonesian participants at the 33rd International Physics Olympiad 2002 for high school students in Nusa Dua, Bali.

After a two-hour delay, the president opened the Olympiad, with some 500 contestants from 70 countries participating.

The 33rd Physics Olympiad, held between July 22 and July 30, is jointly organized by the International Physics Olympiad (IPHO), the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and the Ministry of National Education.

This year's Physics Olympiad attracted 307 high school participants and 195 instructors from 70 countries including Russia, China, China Taipei, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Albania, Armenia, Spain, Finland, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Moldavia, Macedonia, Japan, Kenya, Iceland, Cuba and South Africa.

First held in Warsaw, Poland in l967, the International Physics Olympiad has been the fertile ground to net young people with scientific prowess. Indonesia has been actively taking part in the Olympiad since l993.

Triyanta, chairman of the organizing committee, said Indonesian students had shown their teeth in the international arena.

During the l999 Physics Olympiad in Padova, Italy, Balinese student I Made Agus Wirawan from Bangli High School grabbed a gold medal.

Another student, Agustinus Petter Sahanggamu from SMU 78 High School in Jakarta, won a prestigious gold medal during the Asian Physics Olympiad in Singapore in May this year, a preceding event to the International Olympiad.

"I am optimistic that the Indonesian team will be able to compete with their counterparts from overseas countries," Triyanta said.

The Indonesian team includes Agustinus, Evelyn Mintarno (SMUK BPK Penabur I, Jakarta), Fajar Ardian (SMU Insan Cendikia, Serpong), Christopher Hendriks (SMU Pelita Harapan, Karawaci) and Widagdo Setiawan (SMUN I, Denpasar, Bali).

The team members were selected from a national physics competition.

The Olympiad will constitute a series of written competitions and scientific experiments as well as scientific exhibitions. The winners of each category will be announced on July 29.