Five young Sri Lankans for Intel’s global science competition this year
View(s):Five Sri Lankan students were selected to take part in the 65th Intel Science and EngineeringFair (ISEF) 2015, the world’s largest international pre-college science competition scheduled to be held in Pennsylvania, USA in May.
The selected students were winners in their respective categories at the Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) held recently in Colombo, Intel Colombo said in a media release.
M. Sivatharshan from Hartley College, Jaffna and K. A. S. Subodha Sewwandi of Bomiriya Central College, Kaduwela were adjudged as winners in the individual category whilst B. P. Wijerathna, T. P. Dissanayake and R. J. Ishanka Premalal from Gnanodaya Maha Vidyalaya, Kalutara were declared winners in the group category. The event took place at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka last week.
Mr. Sivatharshan’s ‘Eye Protection and Energy Saving Lamp’ project drew the attention of the panel of judges which comprised eminent local academics. It was a unique design with an LED bulb enclosed in a sphere filled with distilled water which helps the light to scatter evenly and increase its concentration. Ms Sewwandi’s project was a supporting rod made out of steel to assist the elderly and disabled to climb steps. The winning group project explored the science of using ‘Goraka’ (Garcinia quaesita Pierre) to retain the freshness in Garlic.
Speaking at the event, Indika de Zoysa, Country Business Manager, Intel EM Ltd, Sri Lanka Liaison office said, “Over the past seven years, 28 Sri Lankan students have participated at Intel ISEF while over 13 officials have attended the Intel Educator Academy. I am sure that participating at a global event like ISEF is an invaluable experience for our young innovators. I am glad that we at Intel can support these young minds to dream big and compete on a global level.”
Since 2007, Sri Lanka has won five grand awards and seven special awards to date at ISEF.