Sri Lankan students to attend Intel International fair

The three winners of the Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) 2011 - Chathura Saman Kumara from Pinnawala Central College, Rambukkana, Maleen Wijeratna from Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala and a team comprising Pipunika Vimanthi Silva and Nipun Kavishka Silva from, De Mazenod College, Kandana will travel to Pittsburg, PA in the USA to represent Sri Lanka at the annual Intel International Science and Engineering Fair from May 14-18. The winners met Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena recently.

Country Business Manager, Intel EM Limited, Sri Lanka Liaison office Indika de Zoysa, Minister Bandula Gunawardena and the winners

This year's participants will showcase an array of innovative and advanced projects including a multifunctional pair of shoes by Saman Kumara, a new way to predict rainfall based on star patterns by Wijeratne and a computer program built for the visually impaired by the team from De Mazenod College.

They will be competing with over 1,500 students from grades 9 -12 from around the world for nearly US $4 million in awards and scholarships.

Minister Gunewardena said, "I commend Intel Sri Lanka for their efforts in fostering a culture of innovative research and development at a very young age and the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Engineers of Sri Lanka for putting together the local competition to identify the winning projects. "I'm confident that the four Sri Lankans students will perform brilliantly and wish them the best of luck. " As the world's largest pre-college science fair, and the only global science competition for students from grades 9-12, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of the Society for Science and the Public, encourages students to tackle challenging scientific questions and solve the problems of tomorrow.

This year, a record number of 1,600 high school students from over 65 countries will be competing at the event.

Country Business Manager, Intel EM Limited, Sri Lanka Liaison office Indika de Zoysa said, "As an organisation, Intel is committed towards scientific discovery and research and the purpose of this competition has always been to inspire a new generation of innovative thinkers.

ISEF and our many other efforts in collaboration with governments and educators are building student capacity for success in a knowledge-driven economy.

I wish the participants all the very best."

Over the past four years, 17 students have participated in ISEF while over ten officials have attended the Intel Educator Academy. Sri Lanka has won two grand awards and three special awards to date.

"The Intel ISEF has provided students from Sri Lanka and around the world the opportunity to share ideas, showcase cutting-edge technology and compete at the highest level. I'm sure this year's participants will learn immensely from this experience and bring home some of the grand prizes.

I wish them the very best," said Additional Secretary to. President Mahinda Rajapakse Anura Dissanayake .