ROC shines at International Junior Science Olympiad

2015/12/14

Taiwan was best performer at the International Junior Science Olympiad Dec. 2-11 in Daegu, South Korea, with all six members of the national team winning gold for top 10 percent showings.

In addition to the individual honors, the youths bagged three gold and three silver medals in experimental examinations. A total of 236 students from 42 countries and territories contested the competition this year.

“This is Taiwan’s best result since first taking part in the competition in 2004,” said team advisor Lo Pei-hua, associate researcher at National Taiwan Normal University’s Science Education Center. “Although we do not have a strong track record in experimental examinations at the event, this year’s team got the monkey off its back by claiming gold or silver in the tests.”

Among the winners, Lu Chen-yu from Kaohsiung Municipal Senior High School set a new benchmark with four golds, including two top prizes in theoretical tests and total scores, positioning her No. 1 among all entrants.

“I never expected to do this well,” Lu said. “The happiest thing for me is that I got to show our national flag during the award presentation ceremony.”

The other five winners are Huang Hung-yen from Kaohsiung Municipal Wufu Junior High School; Chen Yun-chen and Lin Wei-yu from Tainan Jiansing Junior High School; Tsai Hsin-yu from Taipei First Girls High School; and Ou Ting-wei from Taipei Municipal Dunhua Junior High School.

Taiwan has been a solid performer at the event over the past 11 years, topping the rankings in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, for a total haul of 60 gold and 12 silver medals.

One of the International Science Olympiads, IJSO is the only global academic competition testing biology, chemistry and physics aptitude for students 15 and under.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=240074&ctNode=2194&mp=9)