SMA IPEKA high school student Wilson Gomarga, 18, has taken home the gold medal in the 27th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in Hanoi, Vietnam, on July 16-23.

The IBO is a competition for high school students from around the world with each participating country represented by four students. More than 250 participants from 68 countries joined the event this year.

The Indonesian participants at the annual event came from four different schools and managed to take home four medals. Wilson was selected for the international event after he participated in the National Science Olympiad last year in Yogyakarta.

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Chairman of IBO 2016 Steering Committee, Dr. Nguyen Vinh Hien, presents a gold medal to SMA IPEKA high school student Wilson Gomarga at the 27th International Biology Olimpyad in Hanoi, Vietnam.(SMA IPEKA via kompas.com/-)

“This is the first time I have taken part in the IBO, and of course I’m very happy to contribute by obtaining a gold medal while representing Indonesia,” Gomarga told kompas.com on Monday.

He says that he has liked biology since junior high school and for him it was like a novel that must be understood to be easier to learn.

“I want to have better educational opportunities in the future. I will continue my studies related to biology and medicine as well as exploring the application of the disciplines,” Gomarga said.

Indonesia has been sending student delegates to participate in the competition since 2000. (tif/kes)