Intel reaffirms support to SLSEF for fifth consecutive year

Intel Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Education have renewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) for the fifth consecutive year.

A collaboration between the Ministry of Education (MoE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), and Intel, SLSEF is affiliated to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) – the world’s largest pre-college science competition.  

Affiliated to Intel ISEF, winners of SLSEF represent Sri Lanka at the world’s preeminent science competition for pre-college students. Intel extended its support to the program through 2019.  

The MoU was signed by S. M. Gotabhaya Jayaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Anusha Amarasinghe, Director, National Science Foundation, and Indika De Zoysa, Country Manager of Intel Sri Lanka.

Also present at the occasion were Anura Dissanayake, Additional Secretary, President’s Office, Rohini Wijayarathne, Consultant to the Science Popularisation Division and Nadeera Jayaweera Scientific Officer of NSF and Priyantha K. Weerabahu, Intel Education Program Manager, Sri Lanka.

“By working together with IESL, Intel, and the NSF, we have made great strides in identifying and promoting local talent through the SLSEF. The competition’s affiliation with Intel ISEF has provided Sri Lankan students an opportunity to compete in the international arena, learning from and sharing ideas with their peers from around the world,” said Jayaratne.

Since the initial agreement was signed in February 2008, 22 local students have participated in ISEF, with two grand prize winners and several other recognitions awarded to Sri Lankan students. A national platform for showcasing student scientific ingenuity, SLSEF aims to unite young scientific minds and enhance innovative thinking, while investing in a new generation of pioneers in the fields of math and science.  

Speaking at the occasion, Anura Dissanayake, Additional Secretary to the President’s Office said, “In line with the vision of the Mahinda Chinthanaya of establishing a human capital foundation for the future Sri Lankan knowledge hub, forums such as the SLSEF identify and foster local talent. By sharing their technological expertise and global experiences, Intel, through this MoU, continues to help add value to the MoE’s initiatives.”

“I want to thank the Ministry of Education, National Science Foundation and the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka for helping us to provide amazing opportunity for young Sri Lankan innovators.  By inspiring and rewarding young scientists, this program will help the next generation usher in new solutions to global challenges, which are vital to our common future,” stated Indika de Zoysa, Country Manager, Intel EM Limited -Sri Lanka Liaison office.

Intel ISEF 2012 drew more than 1,500 young scientists from 446 affiliate fairs in approximately 70 countries, regions and territories to compete for US$ 4 million in scholarships and awards.  Liyanadura Pipunika Vimanthi Silva and Liyanadura Nipun Kavishka Silva from De Mazenod College, Sri Lanka won a team second award in the computer science category, winning US$ 400 for each member of the team from the IEEE Computer Society, for their computer program for blind and visually impaired people at the event.

The Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) is held in December each year. The competitors for this fair will be selected from the Science Research Project competition of the National Science Foundation (NSF) of Sri Lanka in November each year and the Junior Inventor of the Year (JIY) competition of Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) in October each year.

The ten best projects of each of the above two competitions of NSF and IESL will compete together at the SLSEF competition.

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, provides an annual forum for more than 1,600 high school students from 65 countries, regions, and territories to showcase their independent research as they compete for over $ 4 million annually. The Intel ISEF is the premier global science competition for students in grades 9–12.