Press Release

(Hong Kong – 13 December 2012) The Hong Kong Team won five silver and one bronze medal at the Ninth International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) held in Tehran, Iran, from December 1 to 10.

The six team members are students from Secondary two and four which are also the members of the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education. The silver medallists are Chong Ching-lok, Lau Chun-ting (from St. Paul’s Co-Educational College), Tsang Suet-ying (from Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School), Yu See-ip (from Heep Yunn School), Kwan Sui-chun (from King George V School). The bronze medalist is Leung Sik-chi (from Wah Yan College, Hong Kong).

The IJSO aims to promote science education and reinforce collaboration among science talent as well as provide a platform for nurturing the scientifically gifted from different countries and regions. A total of 161 scientifically gifted secondary students from 27 countries or regions participated in the Olympiad.

The content of the IJSO is adapted from the International Baccalaureate Programme for 15-year-old students and covers physics, chemistry and biology up to senior secondary level. The competition comprises one multiple-choice test, one theoretical examination and one experimental examination. The experimental examination consists of unfamiliar problems that require analytical and problem-solving skills.

Apart from taking part in the competition and meeting other scientifically gifted students, the participants are also provided with an invaluable opportunity to broaden their horizons and experience foreign cultures.

Six team members have shared their experiences and feelings during this trip at the toasting ceremony. Both Suet-ying and See-ip, the only two girls, said they never experienced wearing a headscarf on the street and this was a brand new experience to them. And Sui-chun enjoyed meeting with people from different part of the world which can enrich his life experience. All of them felt relieved after the competition but they are already missing each other and the two-year training period.

Dr Stephen Tommis, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education, has praised the Hong Kong Team for their effort during the training of the past two years and the awards were a great encouragement for them. He hoped the students would continue to develop their interest and go further in the future competitions.

The Hong Kong team members were the best performers at the International Junior Science Olympiad - Hong Kong Screening 2011-2012. The Education Bureau commissioned the Chinese University of Hong Kong to provide seventeen months of training for the students from April 2011 to November 2012. Training on practical experiments was strengthened this year and The HKAGE ran courses for the first time to further boost the team members' confidence and problem-solving skills.

Before the competition, the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education ran an affective education training programme to further enhance team members’ self-understanding, communication and leadership skills.

The Hong Kong team was led by the EDB Curriculum Development Officer, Mr Leung Kin-tak. The deputy leaders were Mr Cheung Wai-shing, a retired biology teacher, and Ms Yau Wing-yee Selina, a physics teacher at St. Stephen’s Girls’ College.

More information on the Olympiad is available at the website of the Gifted Education Section, Curriculum Development Institute of the Education Bureau (http://resources.edb.gov.hk/gifted/ijso) and the website of HKAGE (www.hkage.org.hk).

From Left to Right (Hong Kong Team: six student participants and three team leaders) Chong Ching-lok, Lau Chun-ting (from St. Paul’s Co-Educational College), Yu See-ip (from Heep Yunn School), Tsang Suet-ying (from Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School), Kwan Sui-chun (King George V School), Leung Sik-chi (Wah Yan College, Hong Kong), Ms Yau Wing Yee Selina, Mr Leung Kin Tak Joseph and Mr Cheung Wai Shing

Six team members shared their experiences and feelings during this trip at the toasting ceremony. From Left to Right: Leung Sik Chi Jonathan (Wah Yan College, Hong Kong), Kwan Sui Chun Sampson (King George V School), Yu See Ip (Heep Yunn School), Tsang Suet Ying Florence (Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School), Lau Chun Ting, Chong Ching Lok (St. Paul’s Co-Educational College)

The Hong Kong Team won five silver and one bronze medal at the Ninth International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO). From Left to Right: Mr Leung Kin-tak, the EDB Curriculum Development Officer, Mr Chan Pui-tin, Chief Curriculum Development Officer, Mr Cheung Wai Shing, a retired biology teacher, Chong Ching Lok (St. Paul’s Co-Educational College), Leung Sik Chi Jonathan (Wah Yan College, Hong Kong), Kwan Sui Chun Sampson (King George V School), Lau Chun Ting (St. Paul’s Co-Educational College), Tsang Suet Ying Florence (Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School), Yu See Ip (Heep Yunn School), Ms Yau Wing Yee Selina, a physics teacher at St. Stephen’s Girls’ College, Dr Stephen Tommis, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education and Dr. Kendrew Mak Kin Wah, Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Science, CUHK