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UI kicks off first RI Science Olympics
The first National Science Olympics for university students officially kicked off at the University of Indonesia (UI) in Jakarta on Monday
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The first National Science Olympics for university students officially kicked off at the University of Indonesia (UI) in Jakarta on Monday.
The event saw 4,223 students from 55 state universities and 69 private universities nationwide sit a preliminary test. The students compete in mathematics, physics and chemistry tests.
"The Olympics are intended to find through a filtering mechanism students who have a comprehensive understanding of sciences, and to prepare them to attend international science competitions and to raise awareness of their feats among our youth," organizing committee chairman Abdul Harris said.
The National Education Ministry's director general of higher education Fasli Jalal, who officially opened the event, said the competition was also aimed at boosting interest in sciences.
"Only 5 percent of Indonesia's 4.3 million university students are majoring in sciences. The figure is far lower than the 10 percent needed to build a good foundation for the nation," he said.
Harris said the Olympics would be held annually and that in the future they would feature other sciences, such as biology, geosciences and astronomy.
"We are looking forward to signing a memorandum of understanding with (state oil firm) PT Pertamina to carry out the science Olympics every year," said UI rector Gumilar R. Soemantri.
Pertamina is sponsoring the debut competition and will award scholarships worth a total Rp 1 billion (US$100,000) to three winners as well as give grants to the winning universities.
"We are very concerned about national education and this competition is expected to promote the quality of students studying sciences related to Pertamina's core business," said Pertamina corporate communication vice president Anang Rizkani Noor.
The students will compete in two stages; The first will be contested simultaneously by students in 30 provinces across the country on Monday. The results will be announced on Nov. 10.
Of the 4,223 participants, 1,599 are competing in mathematics, 1,450 in chemistry and 1174 in physics. The second stage, which will feature 99 students, will be held at the UI campus from Dec. 5 to Dec. 9. (pmf)
