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A team of six Hong Kong secondary students has achieved the city's best ever results in the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) since joining the competition in 2006. The team won the Best Practical Team (1st Place) Award and grabbed a total of five gold medals and four silver medals in the 10th IJSO.
The 10th IJSO was held in Pune, India, from December 3 to 12, 2013, with about 250 scientifically gifted secondary students from 38 countries or regions participating in the event. All six Hong Kong team members are Secondary Four students. Wong Yuk (Diocesan Boys' School) won two gold medals in the Practical and Individual Event. Gabriel Wong (La Salle College) won a gold medal in the Individual Event. Wu Wan-wei (St Paul's Co-educational College) and Lai San-yu (Wa Ying College) won a gold medal and a silver medal respectively in the Practical and the Individual Event. Lau Chin-wa (Tin Ka Ping Secondary School) and Chau Ho-yin (Diocesan Boys' School) were silver medallists in the Individual Event.
The IJSO, a general science competition for 15-year-old students, aims at promoting science education, reinforcing collaboration among science talents and providing a platform for nurturing the scientifically gifted students from different countries and regions.
The IJSO syllabus is interdisciplinary and covers biology, chemistry and physics content up to senior secondary level. The competition comprises one multiple-choice test, one theoretical examination and one experimental examination. The experimental examination consists of unfamiliar problems that require analytical and problem-solving skills.
Apart from taking part in the competition and meeting other scientifically gifted students, the participants are also provided with an invaluable opportunity to visit the organising country's museums and historical centres which helps broaden their horizons and enables them to learn from foreign cultures.
The Hong Kong team members were the best performers at the International Junior Science Olympiad - Hong Kong Screening 2012, which was co-organised by the Education Bureau (EDB), the Hong Kong Association for Science and Mathematics Education and the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE). The HKAGE commissioned the Chinese University of Hong Kong to provide one year of training for the students from November 2012 to November 2013. Before the competition, the HKAGE ran an effective education training programme to further enhance team members' self-understanding, communication and leadership skills.
The Hong Kong team was led by EDB staff and Mr Timmy Wat, a physics teacher of Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School.
Details of the Olympiad are available at the website of the HKAGE (www.hkage.org.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:01
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