Dubai: Three students from the UAE are competing at the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in Bali, Indonesia, which started on December 2 and ends on Saturday, along with teams from 48 other countries around the world.
The Olympiad, which is held in a different country each year, is considered one of the most prestigious competitions held for students under 15 years of age worldwide.
Themed ‘Science for Creative Innovation’ in IJSO-2016, each country is represented by one team consisting of three to six students.
The three students from the UAE are Kaoushik Murugan, 13, Clester Frank Nazareth, 14, and Ahmad Afroz Quereshi, 14.
The completion includes challenging tests in topics of science, both as theory questions and practical assignments. The tests are designed to address students’ understanding of scientific concepts, and their ability to apply concepts to the situations described in the tests.
The students are selected by International Olympiad Foundation (www.olympiads.org), who are the official representatives of several Olympiads for the UAE. The foundation conducted science Olympiad examinations all over the UAE, which saw participation from 1,965 students from 43 different schools across four different curricula this year. After the tests, Meccademia Education Institute shortlisted the top six students, and three were chosen according to the age criteria.
“Meccademia has been coaching students for the international olympiad for the last two years. Particularly for this IJSO, we sourced rigorous training material from India, China and Russia (three toppers from previous editions of IJSO) to start the training,” said a spokesperson from Meccademia.
The competition, which intends to positively promote science and mathematics education at the school level, also aims to encourage young people to experience different cultures by bringing about interactions between students from across the world.
Gulf News spoke with the selected students’ parents about their journey as a family to accomplish their child’s dream to take part in the Olympiad. “For Kaoushik, competing at the International Junior Science Olympiad has been a dream come true. As a family, we all know that it will be a tremendous growing experience for him. We are looking forward to have him in back in Dubai so he can tell us all about it,” said his parents Shermina and Shunmugam Murugan.
Encouraging their son to maintain a great attitude throughout the competition, the proud parents said, “We have told him that he should do his best and not worry too much about the outcome. All of the people who challenge themselves with a good attitude are winners.”
Parents of Clester Frank Nazareth from Sharjah Indian School, another student who is taking part in the Olympiad, said being informed that their son was chosen was an “amazing moment”.
“Two years ago, if we were asked about our son, Clester Nazareth, competing at an international level, we couldn’t have possibly thought of it. He is always playful. But, we have seen him grow and achieve his worthy potential through his experience at Meccademia,” they said.
Just the same, parents of Ahmad Afroz Quereshi, who attends Delhi Private School in Sharjah, were thrilled to hear their son has topped the list of students considered for the Olympiad.
“Initiatives like IJSO are wonderful in shaping young minds. We do not only see it as an academic pursuit but also as an opportunity to share culture, traditions and appreciate the richness and beauty that diversity of people bring to this wonderful world,” they said.
The proud parents said while their son is not conventionally studious, juggling school exams and preparation for IJSO was challenging for him as it went beyond his comfort zone.
“This is Ahmad’s first solo trip without family. That in itself has been a mixed bag of emotions filled with pride, expectations, trepidation and anxious moments for us and him as well,” they said.
In 2017, the Netherlands will be hosting the event from December 3 to 12 under the theme ‘Water and sustainability’.
