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Six secondary students representing Hong Kong won five silver medals and one bronze medal at the Ninth International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) held in Tehran, Iran.
The silver medallists, all of whom were Secondary Four students, were Chong Ching-lok and Lau Chun-ting from St. Paul's Co-Educational College, Tsang Suet-ying from Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School, Yu See-ip from Heep Yunn School and Kwan Sui-chun from King George V School. The bronze medallist was Secondary Two student Leung Sik-chi from Wah Yan College, Hong Kong.
The IJSO aims to promote science education and reinforce collaboration among talented science students as well as to provide a platform for nurturing the scientifically gifted from different countries and regions. A total of 161 scientifically gifted secondary students from 27 countries or regions participated in the Olympiad held between December 1 and 10 this year.
The content of the IJSO is adapted from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for 15-year-old students and covers physics, chemistry and biology up to senior secondary level. The competition comprises one multiple-choice test, one theoretical examination and one experimental examination. The experimental examination involves uncommon 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 broaden their horizons and experience foreign cultures.
The Hong Kong team members were the best performers at the International Junior Science Olympiad - Hong Kong Screening 2011-2012 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 EDB commissioned the Chinese University of Hong Kong to provide one and a half year's training for the students from April 2011 to November 2012. Training in practical experiments was strengthened this year to further boost the team members' confidence and enhance their problem-solving skills.
The HKAGE also ran an affective education training programme to further enhance team members' self-understanding, communication and leadership skills before the competition.
The Hong Kong team was led by the EDB Curriculum Development Officer, Mr Leung Kin-tak. The deputy leaders were Mr Cheung Wai-shing, a retired biology teacher, and Ms Yau Wing-yee, a physics teacher at St Stephen's Girls' College.
More information on the Olympiad is available on the websites of the Gifted Education Section at the Curriculum Development Institute of the Education Bureau (resources.edb.gov.hk/gifted/ijso) and the HKAGE (www.hkage.org.hk).
Ends/Thursday, December 13, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:01
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