PSHS wins gold at Nuclear Science Olympiad

MOHAMMAD Nur «Iman» Casib of Marawi City, an incoming Grade 12 student of Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Central Mindanao Campus, won not just gold at the 1st International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO) but was hailed as Nuclear Ambassador for obtaining the highest points overall among 55 contenders from 14 Asia-Pacific countries in the theoretical and experimental exams.

PSHS Central Mindanao is located in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte.

A competition for junior and senior high school students ages 15 to 20, INSO was held at the New Clark City in Pampanga from August 1 to 6.

Neil Kyle Olaer Maniquis of Manila Science High School also won gold for the Philippines and six others for their respective countries in the olympiad.

Besides Casib and Olaer, the other gold medalists were Caldras Tan Hong Xun, Caleb Chia, Tran Doan Duy Phuc, and Wong Kheng Hshin (Singapore); M N Ahamed Mushab (Sri Lanka); and Nopparuj Sodsri (Thailand).

Silver medalists were Nonpawit Koheng, Rawisara Chokdeepanich and Tharatep Lertpetaiy (Thailand); Isaac Toh Thiam Tek and Lim Yee Jian (Malaysia); Subhan Kashif and Suleman Nouman (Pakistan); Pabasara Kaushalya Maduwage and W. A. Akila Chamodya Bandara (Sri Lanka); Seyedabolfazl Mahdaei (Iran); Jeremiah Auza (Philippines); Galvandi Ibrahim (Qatar); and Mohammed Akrikish (Saudi Arabia).

Bronze medalists were Ayda Bina, Seyed Mohammad Sajadiyan and Shayan Rezazadeh (Iran); Arell Yazid Fazrin Bin Mohd Fauzi and Saratt Suthagar (Malaysia); Ehban Awan and Qasim Salam (Pakistan); Ganzorig Khuslen and Nyam-Ayush Tuvshin (Mongolia); Azzam Khalid Abdullah Alomari, Hala Salman Al Abbad and Hasan Alawadh (Saudi Arabia); Hasan Aman (Bahrain); Omar Amjad Yousef Shbeita (Jordan); Aditya Vivek (Qatar); and Saayuj Ion Mathew (UAE).

According to INSO, the contestants came as teams representing their respective countries but competed as individuals.

Further, they were ranked according to the points they obtained in the two exams, where Casib emerged as the topnotcher.

Topics covered in the olympiad were the structure of an atom and nucleus, radiation, fission and fusion, radioactivity in the environment, history of nuclear science, risk and