International Physics Olympiad opens

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.