Indian students win laurels at Intel’s international fair

BANGALORE: When it comes to intellectual skills and winning awards in the

International competition for technological and engineering skills, there no

beating the Indians and certainly not Indian kids. In the recently held 52nd

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in San Jose,

California, the Indian students captured seven prizes, awards and scholarships

worth Rs 5.52 lakh.

In the Asia Pacific region alone, students bagged 39 prizes in all. Over 800

students from over 38 countries participated in the competition held from May 7

to May 11, where students were judged on their creative ability, scientific

thought, as well as the thoroughness, skill and clarity shown in their projects.

In the Asia Pacific category students from India, Australia, China, Malaysia,

Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand participated in the contest. India

sent a team of four high school students to Intel ISEF to the prestigious

international competition, often considered as the Olympics of science

competitions.

All participating Indian students won prizes for their entries worth a total

of $13,000. Bharat Suresh Mhatre and Amit Kiran Sowani, from Ram Nivas Ruia

Junior College, Mumbai won for their project on Environmental Science:

"Pollution Controller and Fuel Collector. Efficient method proposed to

recover oil split on the ocean surface".

Yash Vasant Joshi, of St. Xavier's High School and Vile Parle (West) won for

his Project in Environmental Science: "Reprocessing of Plastic Wastes at

Place of Generation". Ruchira Bajpai, of St Joseph's School, Shakti Nagar,

Uttar Pradesh won for the project: "Lowering Hyperglycemia Using Custard

Apple Leaves."

Head Education Programs, Intel India. Debjani Ghosh, said," We are

elated with the Indian students achievements at the Intel ISEF. Intel strongly

believes in encouraging and rewarding efforts that focus on Science, Mathematics

and IT. The Intel ISEF represents the pinnacle of success for students in these

said areas." added Ghosh.

Intel ISEF is the world's only science project competition for students

between the ninth and twelfth grade. Students from all over the world compete in

the competition, bringing together the globe's brightest minds in subjects that

span every area of science and technology, from Biology and Engineering to the

Social Sciences.

Students competed in one of 15 life science categories: Behavioral and Social

Sciences, Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Space

Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Science, Gerontology, Mathematics, Medicine

and Health, Microbiology, Physics, Team Projects and Zoology. A panel of judges

determined the first four places in each of the categories.