Desk Report,
Top 30 in national selection receive awards, final selection on July 29 and 30
30 people have passed the national selection of the 20th edition of the astronomy event ‘Apex Astro-Olympiad’. Five of them will be finally selected on July 29 and 30. They will participate in the Open World Astronomy Olympiad to be held in Russia next September.
Top 30 in national selection receive awards, final selection on July 29 and 30
This Saturday morning, the national selection program was organized at the East West University campus in Aftabnagar in the capital. School and college students aged 14 to 18 participated in it at the initiative of the Bangladesh Astronomical Association. The results were announced in the afternoon after the day-long examination.
The chief guest of the program was Professor Mohammad Farashuddin, Chairperson of the University’s Board of Trustees. Speaking as the chief guest, Professor Mohammad Farashuddin, former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, said that about 50 million people in the country are young people aged 15-30. If we can make them proficient in science, engineering and technology, extraordinary progress is possible even with limited resources and limited area. Mikhail Gabrilov, chairman of the International Astronomy Olympiad, said, astronomy is a very interesting way to understand the universe and nature. Not everyone here will become a scientist in the future, but everyone will gain a lot of good experience in the ocean of science.
In his welcome speech, Shams Rahman, Vice Chancellor of the university, said, “We work only with resources below and above the ground. Recently, Bangladesh has also been working on the blue economy. But we are very behind in terms of what is in space. I believe that they will acquire not only luxury, but the knowledge needed to extract those resources for mankind, to fulfill their dreams. The students present today will lead this path in the future.”
Magician Jewel Aich said, “Being a scientist is not a big deal, being scientifically minded is a big deal. Anyone can become a scientist by learning some things about technology. But to be scientifically minded, you have to know a lot, you have to read. You have to understand the world. You have to understand philosophy, literature, and culture. Bangladesh Astronomical Association Chairman Mashhurul Amin, ‘Apex Astro-Olympiad’ Project Director Shahapar Alam, among others, also spoke at the event.
Nabil Nahian, a student of Notre Dame College, came first in the senior group in the competition. Radit Rayyan, a 12th grade student of Adamjee Cantonment College, and Naomi Manam, a student of Mymensingh Government College, came second and third, respectively.
Md. Radit Rayyan told Prothom Alo, ‘I participated the previous year as well. But this time I got the award. I enjoyed participating in this event.’
Md. Makhdum Amin, a 10th grade student of Jessore Police Line Secondary School, came first in the junior group. The second and third places were taken by Shahadat Hossain, a student of Unique Progressive School in Mymensingh, and Abdullah Shafi bin Nahid, a sixth-grade student of Bandar Mohammadia Dakhil Madrasa in Chittagong.
The preliminary selection process for the Olympiad was held across the country from July 5 to 20. About 310 competitors selected in the preliminary selection took part in the national selection process today. Of them, 30 passed, 15 each in the senior and junior categories. All the winning students were given crests and certificates. The top 20 students also received cash prizes.
The students selected from the national selection will have the opportunity to stay in a two-day closed camp at the same venue on July 29 and 30. Five of them will be finally selected. They will compete in the Open World Astronomy Olympiad to be held in Russia from September 20 to 27. At the same time, they will have the opportunity to represent Bangladesh in the 29th International Astronomy Olympiad and the Asian-Pacific Astronomy Olympiad.
The ‘Apex Astro-Olympiad’ is organized by the Bangladesh Astronomical Association. Like last year, Apex is the title sponsor of this year’s event. The organizers are supported by Pioneer Insurance Company Limited, Mutual Trust Bank PLC, East West University, Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed & Associates, ADN Telecom, Kedarpur T Co Ltd, Watches World. Media partners are Prothom Alo, Duronta Television, Channel i, bdnews24.com, The Business Standard and Russian House in Dhaka.
