Sri Lankan students to attend Intel ISEF 2012 in USA

The three winners of Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) 2011 – Chathura Saman Kumara from Pinnawala Central College, Rambukkana, Maleen Wijeratna from Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, and a team comprising Pipunika Vimanthi Silva and Nipun Kavishka Silva from De Mazenod College, Kandana – will travel to Pittsburg, PA in the USA to represent Sri Lanka at the annual Intel International Science and Engineering Fair from 14 to 18 May. The participants met with Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena, prior to their departure to the US.

This year’s participants will showcase an array of innovative and advanced projects including a multifunctional pair of shoes by Saman Kumara, a new way to predict rainfall based on star patterns by Wijeratne and a computer program built for the visually-impaired by the team from De Mazenod College. They will be competing with over 1,500 students in Grades 9 through 12 from around the world for nearly US$ 4 million in awards and scholarships.

Minister Bandula Gunewardena stated, “I commend Intel Sri Lanka for their active efforts in fostering a culture of innovative research and development at a very young age and the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Engineers of Sri Lanka for putting together the local competition to identify the winning projects. I’m confident that the four Sri Lankans students will perform brilliantly and wish them the best of luck. ”

As the world’s largest pre-college science fair, and the only global science competition for students in Grades 9-12, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of the Society for Science and the Public, encourages students to tackle challenging scientific questions and solve the problems of tomorrow.

This year, a record number of 1,600 high school students from over 65 countries will be competing at the event.

Indika de Zoysa, Country Business Manager, Intel EM Limited, Sri Lanka Liaison office said, “As an organisation, Intel is extremely committed towards scientific discovery and research and the purpose of this competition has always been to inspire a new generation of innovative thinkers. ISEF and our many other efforts in collaboration with governments and educators are building student capacity for success in a knowledge-driven economy. I wish the participants all the very best.”

Over the past four years, 17 students have participated at ISEF while over ten officials have attended the Intel Educator Academy. Sri Lanka has won two grand awards and three special awards to date.

“The Intel ISEF has provided students from Sri Lanka and around the world the opportunity to share ideas, showcase cutting-edge technology and compete at the highest level. I’m sure this year’s participants will learn immensely from this experience and bring home some of the grand prizes. I wish them the very best,” said Anura Dissanayake, Additional Secretary to H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa who attended the meeting.

In addition the local student participants, a group of officials will also be attending the Intel Educator Academy, happening co-currently with ISEF.

The objective of the Educator Academy is to build upon science competitions to help drive the improvement of mathematics and science education and increase the effectiveness of science fair competitions.

A team comprising of Prof. Rizvi Sheriff (Chairperson of Scientific Review Committee of Sri Lanka Science & Engineering Fair), J. Meegoda (Chairperson of Junior Inventor of the Year competition at the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka) and Nadeera Jayaweera (Organiser of Science Research Projects Competition at the National Science Foundation) will be participating in the Educator Academy this year.