2003 INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, MATHEMATICAL AND INFORMATICS OLYMPIADS

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2003 INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, MATHEMATICAL AND INFORMATICS OLYMPIADS

1 The Ministry of Education would like to congratulate the Singapore students who have won medals at five International Olympiads in 2003 - the 14th International Biology Olympiad (IBO), the 35th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), the 34th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), the 44th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) and the 15th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). Further details of the various competitions are at Annex A.

14th International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

2 The following students represented Singapore at the 14th IBO held in Minsk, Belarus from 8 - 16 July 2003:

3 All four students received medals in a field of 163 participants. The Gold medallist is Soh Ying Qi Shirleen of Victoria Junior College. The 3 Silver medallists are Hong Enping of Raffles Junior College, Ho Jiang Hai of Hwa Chong Junior College and Chew Guo-Liang of Anglo-Chinese Junior College.

4 The team was led by Assoc. Prof. Shirley Lim and Dr Beverly Goh, both from the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University.

5 In terms of medals won, Singapore was placed 5th out of 41 participating countries. Three countries, the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China and Thailand, tied for the top position, each with 3 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal. In total, 17 Gold, 33 Silver and 49 Bronze medals were awarded.

35th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)

6 The following four students represented Singapore at the 35th IChO held in Athens, Greece, from 5 - 14 July 2003:

7 All four students who represented Singapore received their medals in a field of 232 participants. The Gold medallist is Lam Yan Choi of Raffles Junior College. The 2 Silver medallists are Celestine Lau Swee Theng and Brendan Ng Jian Ying, both students of Raffles Junior College. The Bronze medallist is Gabriel Cheong Kah Kay of Anglo-Chinese Junior College.

8 The delegation leaders were Dr Fan Wai Yip and Dr Leong Weng Kee from the National University of Singapore.
9 In terms of medals won, Singapore was placed 10th out of 59 participating countries, sharing the position with Canada and Taiwan. The People's Republic of China was the top performing country with 4 Gold medals. In total, 30 Gold, 53 Silver, 70 Bronze medals and 44 Honourable Mentions were awarded.

34th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)

10 The following five students represented Singapore at the 34th IPhO was held in Taipei, Taiwan from 2 - 11 August 2003.

11         All five students who represented Singapore received awards in a field of 238 participants. He Ruijie of Raffles Junior College and Lee Ching Hua of Victoria Junior College won Silver medals while Gideon Tan Guang Yuan ofRaffles Junior College won a Bronze medal. Wang Jiun Haur and Desmond Cai Wuhan, both from Raffles Junior College, received Honourable Mentions.

12         The team was led by Dr Kwek Leong Chuan from the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University and Mr Chiew Teck Tzer from Temasek Junior College.

13         In terms of medals won, Singapore was placed 16th out of 54 participating countries. The top team was from the United States of America with 3 Gold and 2 Silver medals. A total of 20 Golds, 39 Silvers, 38 Bronzes and 56 Honourable Mentions were awarded.

44th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

14 The following six students represented represented Singapore at the 44th IMO held in Tokyo, Japan from 7 - 19 July 2003:

15         Five out of the six students received medals in a field of 457 participants. The 2 Bronze medallists are Sia Jia Min Charmaine of Raffles Girls' School (Secondary) and Tay Wei En Joel of Raffles Junior College. The 3 students who received an Honourable Mention are Tay Jingyi Kenneth of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Chong Kai Fong Ernest of Raffles Junior College and Teo Wei Hao of National Junior College.

16         The delegation leaders were Dr Wong Yan Loi from the National University of Singapore and Mr Chia Meng Hwee David from Pioneer Junior College.

17         In terms of total score, Singapore was placed 36th out of 82 participating countries. The top three spots went to Bulgaria, the People's Republic of China and the United States of America respectively.

15th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)

18 The following four students represented Singapore, at the 15th IOI held in Kenosha, USA from 16 - 23 August 2003.

19         Liang Junjie received a Bronze medal in a field of 312 participants.

20         The delegation leaders were Dr Tan Sun Teck from the National University of Singapore and Mr Fong Kwok Kwong from Pioneer Junior College.

21         In terms of medals won, Singapore was ranked 44th among 77 participating countries. 4 countries shared the top position: USA, Korea, Romania and Sweden, each with 2 Gold and 2 Silver medals. A total of 24 Gold, 45 Silver and 63 Bronze medals were awarded for the event.

22         Our students' participation in the various International Olympiads is a joint effort between the Ministry of Education and the following organisations:

1           The IPhO is an international physics competition opened to students below the age of 20 who have not commenced their university studies. The first IPhO was held in Poland in 1967 and has been organised annually and held in different countries.

2           The competition consists of a theoretical examination and an experimental examination, each of 5 hours duration. Each participating country sends a team comprising of 2 delegation leaders and 5 students. Singapore has taken part in IPhO every year since 1989.

3           Local students take part in the Singapore Physics Olympiad (SPhO) and based on their performance, about 20 -25 are selected for further training by NUS, NIE and JC lecturers. At the end of the training, 5 students are selected from a test to represent Singapore in the IPhO. More information on the international Olympiad is available in the following website: http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ipho2003.htm

International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)

4           The IChO is a competition where students below the age of 19 years compete against each other in intellectual prowess in Chemistry. The competition has been held annually since 1969. Each country sends a team of 4 students and 2 delegation leaders. It consists of a theory examination and a practical test, each of approximately 4-5 hours, taken over two days. Singapore first participated in the IChO in 1988. Since 1990, we have been participating annually in the IChO.

5           Students are selected for training based on their results in the Singapore Chemistry Olympiad (SChO). About 160 JC1 students participate in the SChO each year, out of which mainly gold and silver medallists who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents are invited to training conducted by NUS, NIE, and JC lecturers in preparation for IChO the following year. Through tests conducted during the training period, 4 students are selected to participate in IChO. More information on the international Olympiad is available in the following website: http://www.chem.rug.nl/icho34/

International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

6           The IBO is open to all secondary school and pre-university students who have yet to commence their university studies. The participants, however, must be winners of their national competition. The competition tests skills in solving biological problems and in handling biological experiments. It consists of 2 parts, the theoretical and the practical (experimental) examinations, each lasting about 4 to 6 hours. The first IBO was held in Czechoslovakia in 1990 and since then, it has been organised annually and hosted in different countries. Singapore first participated in the IBO in 2001 in Brussels, Belgium.

7           Local pre-university students are nominated by their respective JCs to take part in the Singapore Biology Olympiad (SBO) at the end of JC1. Based on their performance, all Gold awardees who are either Singapore citizens or permanent residents, are invited to undergo further twice-weekly training at NUS and NIE. The training culminated to a 2-week residential training in June where the 4 student participants for the IBO are selected. More information on the international Olympiad is available at the following website: http://www.kbinirsnb.be/ibo/ibo.htm

International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)

8           The IOI is open to all secondary school and pre-university students who are not over twenty years of age. The first IOI was held in Pravetz, Bulgaria in May 1989 and has since been organised annually by different host countries. Each participating country sends a team of up to 4 students and 2 delegation leaders. The students are required to complete 3 algorithmic programming tasks in 5 hours on each of the two days set aside for the competition. Cultural and recreational events are organised on the remaining days. Singapore has taken part in the IOI since 1992.

9           Local students take part in the National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI) and the gold and silver medallists are selected for further training by NUS. Gold medallists of the previous year's NOI and IOI automatically qualify for the training by NUS. At the end of the training, 4 students are selected from a series of tests to represent Singapore at the IOI. More information on the international Olympiad is available at the following website: http://olympiads.win.tue.nl/ioi/

International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

10         The IMO is an international mathematics competition opened to students no more than 20 years old and who have not received any post-secondary school education. The first IMO was held in Romania in 1959. The site of the competition changes each year and the IMO has been held every year except 1980. Singapore first competed in the IMO in Canberra, Australia in 1988.

11         The contest portion of the IMO consists of two tests, held over 2 consecutive days, consisting of 3 questions to be answered in 4.5 hours. Each participating country sends a team comprising of a delegation leader, a deputy delegation leader and 6 students.

12         Every year 6 participants will be selected to represent Singapore at the IMO. A selection test is conducted annually for students from Sec 1 to JC1. Generally, about 50 students who qualify will be trained each year. Students with potential are also identified through their participation at a local Olympiad organised by the Singapore Mathematics Society (SMS) and are invited for training under the Junior Team Training. More information on the international Olympiad is available on the following website: http://www.imo2003.com/

	Chew Guo-Liang (Anglo-Chinese Junior College)
	Hong Enping (Raffles Junior College)
	Ho Jiang Hai (Hwa Chong Junior College)
	Soh Ying Qi Shirleen (Victoria Junior College)

	Brendan Ng Jian Ying (Raffles Junior College)
	Celestine Lau Swee Theng (Raffles Junior College)
	Gabriel Cheong Kah Kay (Anglo-Chinese Junior College)
	Lam Yan Choi (Raffles Junior College)

	Desmond Cai Wuhan (Raffles Junior College)
	Gideon Tan Guang Yuan (Raffles Junior College)
	He Ruijie (Raffles Junior College)
	Lee Ching Hua (Victoria Junior College)
	Wang Jiun Haur (Raffles Junior College)

	Chong Kai Fong Ernest (Raffles Junior College)
	Kueh Ju Lui Andre (The Chinese High School)
	Sia Jia Min Charmaine (Raffles Girls'School)
	Tay Jingyi Kenneth (Anglo-Chinese School Independent)
	Tay Wei En Joel (Raffles Junior College)
	Teo Wei Hao (National Junior College)

	Liang Junjie (Raffles Institution)
	Daniel Chia Jin Hao (Raffles Institution)
	Lawrence Tan Kee Tee (Raffles Junior College)
	Mak Mun Thye (Victoria Junior College)

	Institute of Physics, Singapore,
	Singapore Institute of Biology,
	Singapore National Institute of Chemistry,
	Singapore Mathematical Society,
	National University of Singapore, and
	National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University.