3rd junior science Olympiad begins

The national phase of the ‘Third Bangladesh Junior Science Olympiad’ was inaugurated at University of Asia Pacific in the capital on Saturday morning with a view to select 50 junior scientists out of 481 participants.

Six selected contestants of these 50 junior scientists will take part in the 14th International Junior Science Olympiad to be held in Amsterdam, Netherlands in December this year.

Noted educationist, also vice chancellor of University of Asia Pacific, professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, inaugurated the ‘Third Bangladesh Junior Science Olympiad’.

He said, no nation can flourish without achieving development in science.

Society for the Popularisation of Science, Bangladesh and Bangladesh Freedom Foundation have jointly organised the Junior Science Olympiad with the assistance of Prothom Alo. Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited is sponsoring the Olympiad while Bigganchinta is the magazine partner.

The 481 contestants of the ‘Third Bangladesh Junior Science Olympiad’ were selected in two phases - regional phases and an e-olympiad. Regional phases were held in nine major cities in the country. A total of 5,500 participants took part in those phases.

Junior Science Olympiad convener Munir Hasan, scientist Rezaur Rahman, and Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited managing director Habibur Rahman, deputy managing director Kazi Tawhid Ul Alam, Bangladesh Freedom Foundation executive director Sazzadur Rahman Chowdhury, and Society for the Popularisation of Science, Bangladesh general secretary Farsim Mannan Mohammadi also addressed the ceremony.

A book fair is also underway at the campus of the University of Asia Pacific.

Names of 50 selected contestants will be declared in the afternoon.