Science contest sees record numbers participate

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) announced here yesterday that the number of participants in this year's scientific competition increased by 61 percent.

At least 507 students from 27 provinces took part in the competition compared to 314 last year.

John Pasaribu, LIPI's head of Popularization and Dissemination of Science and Technology, said that 31 of the participants had been chosen as finalists.

He also said that the competition is open to students between 12 to 19-years-old, regardless of their educational background.

The competition is divided into three categories: social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and technical sciences.

Pasaribu said that one of this year's participants is a grade school drop-out.

According to a source at the organizing committee, 18-year-old Alamsyah dropped out of grade school six years ago because his parents needed his help at home.

Alamsyah's paper is entitled The economic, social and environmental impacts of coral excavation in West Lombok.

All the finalists' papers will be evaluated by a team of 21 judges, headed by Pratiwi Sudharmono, a noted scientist.

Pasaribu said the finalists will be interviewed by the judges on Aug. 14. The winners will be announced on the following day at TVRI's (the state-owned television) studio.

The juries will then select the six best finalists from each category. (05)