Sri Lankan teenager wins big at Intel ISEF 2013

Nineteen-year-old Dinesh Kapuge from Mihinthale Central College, Sri Lanka won first award in the engineering: electrical and mechanical category and second award from the Ashtavadhani Vidwan Ambati Subbaraya Chetty Foundation at this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public.

Kapuge was awarded $ 3,000 for the first award and an additional US$ 500 savings bond; for his unique project entitled ‘ridge cutting machine’. The AVASC recognises projects that display outstanding creativity, ingenuity, and have the potential to alleviate the human condition or mark a substantive advancement in the scientific field.

“I would like to congratulate Kapuge on his achievement – he has brought great pride to his country,” said Indika de Zoysa, Country Manager for Intel Sri Lanka. “I also congratulate the three other students who represented Sri Lanka at the contest. Having had an opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas with competitors from around the world, our ISEF participants are now poised to share their experiences with the larger Sri Lankan student community.”

Kapuge, who was the runner up at the Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF), was part of the Sri Lankan contingent at the Intel ISEF which included Pasindu Wijesena from Ananda College, Colombo, and Subhash Gamage and Rakhitha Malewana from Nalanda College, Colombo.

This year, approximately 1,600 young scientists were chosen to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. They were selected from 433 affiliate fairs in more than 70 countries, regions and territories. In addition to the winners mentioned above, more than 1,600 finalists received awards and prizes for their innovative research. Awards included 17 ‘Best of Category’ winners who each received a $5,000 prize. The Intel Foundation also awarded a $ 1,000 grant to each winner’s school and to the affiliated fair they represent.

Ionut Budisteanu, 19, of Romania was awarded first place for using artificial intelligence to create a viable model for a low-cost, self-driving car and received the Gordon E. Moore Award of $75,000, named in honour of the Intel co-founder and fellow scientist.

Eesha Khare, 18, of Saratoga, Calif. and Henry Lin, 17, of Shreveport, La. received the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000 each for their individual projects.  

“We support the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair because we believe that science and math are the foundation of innovation, which is imperative for global economic growth and advancing society,” said de Zoysa. “This competition encourages millions of students worldwide every year to explore their passion for math and science while developing solutions for global challenges.” The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair honours some of the world’s most promising, rising student entrepreneurs, innovators and scientists. Finalists are selected annually from hundreds of affiliated fairs. Their projects are then evaluated onsite by more than 1,200 judges from nearly every scientific discipline, each with a Ph.D. or the equivalent of six years of related professional experience in one of the scientific disciplines. This is the first year that all Intel International Science and Engineering Fair finalists will receive digital badges recognising and rewarding their achievements in independent scientific and engineering research. Volunteers, judges and interpreters will also receive badges. Digital badges promote informal modes of education and provide recognition and credentialing for achievements beyond the classroom.