Sri Lankan students win 2 grand awards and special award at Intel International Science and Engineer

Sri Lankan students won the two Grand awards and special award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), a program of Society for Science and the Public, is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. Through a global network of local, regional and national science fairs, millions of students are encouraged to explore their passion for developing innovations that improve the way we work and live. Each May, a group of these students is selected as finalists and offered the opportunity to compete for approximately $ 4 million in awards and scholarships. 

Guided by the belief that advances in science and engineering are key to solving global challenges, Society for Science and the Public has organised and produced the competition since it was founded in 1950 as the National Science Fair. Intel took on title sponsorship of the International Science and Engineering Fair in 1997 as part of an effort to bring greater attention to science, technology, engineering and math achievement, encourage more youth to embrace these fields, and highlight the impact these subjects have on the future of innovation. 

More than 1,700 young scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and makers were convened in Los Angeles for the final competition during 14-19 May. These finalists were selected from 425 affiliate fairs in 78 countries, regions and territories. All finalists are selected by an affiliated, local competition and receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. At the competition, finalists were judged by hundreds of science, engineering and industry professionals who have a Ph.D. or equivalent (six years of related professional experience) or were senior graduate students with doctoral-level research in one of the 22 scientific disciplines. 

Intel ISEF announced its top winners in Los Angeles, California, USA. 

As the winners of the Junior Inventor of the Year (JIY) Competition, Wishwajith Gangodawila of Narammala Mayurapada Central College and Sanuja Abeywickrama of Ambalangoda Dharmashoka Central College participated Intel International Science and Engineering Fair representing Sri Lanka. Wishwajith Gangodawila from Narammala Mayurapada Central College won fourth award in the Engineering Mechanics category at the Grand Award Ceremony for his unique project titled ‘Systematic Wall Constructing Tool’. 

Also as the winners of the Science Research Projects (SRPC) Competition, Sankalpa Perera and Shehan Sankalpa from S De S Jayasinghe Central College Dehiwala won fourth award in the Earth & Environmental Sciences category at the Grand Award Ceremony and Special award from King Abdul-Aziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity for their research titled ‘Micro and Nano engineering for wastewater: Magnetised biochar and nanoparticle composite for toxic Cr (VI) removal’. 

The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka and the National Science Foundation warmly welcome the winners of Intel ISEF when they arrived at the Air Port, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

Award winning Sri Lankan students on their return to Colombo

The opportunity to participate in the international competition arose when they won the top places at the ‘Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF). The SLSEF is a joint effort where the Ministry of Education (MoE), National Science Foundation (NSF), Intel and the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) had joined hands since year 2007 to promote creativity and innovation among the country’s younger generation. The winners of the Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) are sent by Intel to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. 

Junior Inventor of the Year Competition (JIY) is organised by the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) for the Sri Lankan youth between the ages 12-19 years in order to enhance the creativity and skills of the younger generation since 1980. Initially JIY preliminary competitions held at the provincial level, and proceed to the final JIY competition held at the IESL Headquarters in Colombo. The winners get an opportunity to display their inventions at the National Engineering Exhibition Techno that will be held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in October every year. 

The Science Research Projects Competition (SRPC) is organised by the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka (NSF). The SRPC recognises remarkable young talent in the country while fostering individual growth for school students in Grades 9-12 who are willing to challenge themselves through science research since 2007. The winners get an opportunity to display their research at the National Science Day that will be held at the Colombo in every year.