Gujarat boy to represent India at International Junior Science Olympiad at Doha, Qatar

Gujarat is again shining with Science, as one of the Gujarat boy, Mahit Gadhiwala, excelled in his career and clears his way to represent India at the 16th International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) to be held at Doha, Qatar during 3rd to 12th December 2019.

Mahit, a Std X student of Scholar English Academy in Surat, is one among the six members team to represent India at the 16th IJSO 2019 at Doha, Qatar. The other team members are Arnav Singh (Karnataka), Atharva Mahajan (Maharashtra), Krishna Sharma (Madhya Pradesh), Manpreet Singh (Delhi) and Priyanshu Yadav (Rajasthan).

More than 300 bright students aged 15 years and younger, from more than 50 countries around the world, will meet during the Junior Science Olympiad to test their knowledge and skills in physics, biology and chemistry.

The competition comprises two individual theoretical tests followed by a practical test. These tests should be the result of a team effort of all involved students. The aim of this science competition is to introduce the students, at a young age, to an international network of beta enthusiasts. In addition, it promotes and rewards the pursuit of excellence in scientific endeavour and stimulates gifted students to further develop their talents in STEM education.

The Indian team was selected from a rigorous training programme of 25 meritorious students held at Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education of Tata Institute of Fundamental Science (TIFR), Mumbai during 28th April to 14th May 2019). Mahit is the first student of the state to participate in the IJSO this year.

Initially more than 45,000 students from all over the country appeared the National Standard Examination in Junior Science Olympiad (NJSO) on 18th November 2018 and has gone through 3 levels with increasing difficulty. Top 300 students were selected from NSEA for the second round Indian National Junior Science Olympiads which was held on 3rd February 2019 across 18 centres in the country. Out of this, only 21 students got selected for the orientation cum selection camp on Astronomy which was conducted at HBCSE, Mumbai during 2nd to 18th May 2019.

The camp was all about rigorous training of theory, practical and sky observations skill, conducted by the eminent experts from various scientific institutions in India. It also includes 7 examinations sessions consisting of theory, data analysis and sky observation. Finally, on the basis of performances, the top 6 students were selected to represent India at the 16th IJSO 2019. The entire process has been administered by the HBCSE-TIFR, Mumbai.

Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST), working under the aegis of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of Gujarat, plays a significant role in motivating the students for maximizing the enrolment in different Science Olympiads in the state. Every year GUJCOST in association with Gujarat Science City conducts orientation programmes for the meritorious students for in physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy and Junior Science with the involvement of the eminent experts and faculties of the country.

Science Olympiad is an exhilarating and uplifting movement for students, teachers and the organizers. Keen interest in the subject, inventiveness, critical analysis, creativity and perseverance are necessary to tackle the task in the Olympiad.

Mahit, who has a wish to be scientist in future, will be the role model for the students of his age in the state and country and his humble achievement will be the inspiring and encouraging step for others, who may prepare for the IJSO 2020 to be held at Frankfurt, Germany.

Science & Technology plays a fundamental role in the human progress and will acquire more global importance in the 21 century.

The National and International Junior Science Olympiad Program is designed to encourage students of the junior high school classes, which includes an intellectual competition with good foundations in physics, biology and mathematics. The programme aimed at developing the imagination, creativity and independent thinking.

India has been participating in International Junior Science Olympiad since 2007. The Olympiad is carried out in the spirit of friendship, tolerance, where the competition is a stimulus for showing the participants’ capabilities but contacts, exchange of ideas and collaboration between students, teachers and scientists from various countries have a primary importance.

Well done Mahit and All the best to Team India at 16th IJSO 2019 in Doha, Qatar!