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Six Hong Kong students made the best-ever achievement in the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO), winning one silver and five bronze medals for Hong Kong.
Their outstanding performance in the Fourth IJSO, held in Taipei, Taiwan, between December 2 and 11, set a record for the Special Administrative Region, surpassing last year's results. Last year, the Hong Kong team participated in the Olympiad, held in Brazil, for the first time and netted three bronze medals.
The Olympiad invited 38 countries/regions which nominated 200 scientifically gifted secondary students to participate in the science quiz.
The syllabus for the IJSO was adapted from the international baccalaureate programme for 15-year-old students covering topics in physics, chemistry and biology up to Secondary Six level. The competition comprised a multiple-choice test, a theoretical examination and a practical examination.
In addition to taking part in the competition, the participants were also provided with invaluable opportunities to tour museums and historical centres to broaden their horizons.
The Hong Kong team was groomed by the Gifted Education Section of the Curriculum Development Institute under the Education Bureau (EDB). Prior to the competition, the Faculty of Science of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) was commissioned to train the IJSO students from July to November.
They were the best performers in a local science competition, the Hong Kong Budding Scientists Awards (2006-2007), and selected from the top students of a CUHK project - A Science Enrichment Programme for Secondary Three to Four Students.
The Hong Kong team was led by Dr Cheung Yu-san, Dr Mak kin-wah Kendrew, Mr Leung Kai-yu, Ms Lai Yuk-yan and Ms Chiu Shui-fan, who were the trainers of the IJSO student training programme or committee members of Hong Kong Budding Scientists Awards.
Members of the Hong Kong team were:
Tong Hok-fung (S4) Queen's College Silver medal
Chow Him-wo (S4) King's College Bronze medal
Fung Jun-hou (S4) Canadian International Bronze medal
School of Hong Kong
Kwan Chin-wai (S3) Ying Wa College Bronze medal
So Yik-ka (S3) Diocesan Girls' School Bronze medal
Wong Tin-wai (S4) Baptist Lui Ming Choi Bronze medal
Secondary School
All of the students have been invited to join a one-year mentorship programme organised by the Gifted Education Section. Under the programme, the students will carry out their own scientific research under the guidance of university academics and develop their potential to the fullest.
The snapshots and relevant information on the Fourth IJSO can be found on this website: http://resources.edb.gov.hk/gifted/ijso/0607/index.html.
Ends/Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:49
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