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A team of six secondary students representing Hong Kong won one gold medal and five silver medals at the Twelfth International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO). The Olympiad was held in Daegu, South Korea, from December 2 to 11, with about 250 scientifically gifted secondary students from 43 countries and regions participating.
The gold medallist was Brandon Trevor Tang (Secondary Four student of Diocesan Boys' School). The silver medallists were Chau Chun-wang (Secondary Three student of St Margaret's Co-educational English Secondary and Primary School), Cheng Yan-yau (Year 11 student of Discovery College), Fan Wai-hin (Secondary Four student of St Paul's Co-educational College), Cyrus Fung (Secondary Four student of Diocesan Boys' School) and Wong Lok-wang (Secondary Four student of La Salle College).
The IJSO, a science competition for students at the age of 15 or below, aims to promote science education, reinforce collaboration among science talents and provide a platform for nurturing 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 a multiple-choice test, a theoretical examination and an 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 were also provided with an invaluable opportunity to visit the organising country's museums and historical centres, which helped broaden their horizons and enabled them to learn about foreign cultures.
The Hong Kong team members were the best performers among the students in a training programme, having been selected at the International Junior Science Olympiad - Hong Kong Screening 2014, which was co-organised by the Education Bureau, 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. Before the competition, the HKAGE also ran an affective education training programme to further enhance the team members' self-understanding, communication and leadership skills.
The Hong Kong team was led by EDB staff; biology teacher at True Light Girls' College Ms Bonnie Chow and student programme development officer at the HKAGE Ms Vivien Mak.
Details of the Olympiad are available at the website of the HKAGE (www.hkage.org.hk).
Ends/Friday, December 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:04
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