Four school children and three Jury members will participate 20th International Biology Olympiad held in Tsukuba, Japan from 12- 19 July 2009. International Biology Olympiad is an internationally conducted prestigious competition, in which bright students form countries all over the world compete for medals.
Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka holds National Biology Olympiad (SLBO) annually, in Collaboration with Sri Lankan Universities and Ministry of Education and students to participate in International Olympiad. About 1800 students participated in SLBO 2008 competition, and based on the results of SLBO 2008, Udari Samarasiri and Maheshi Wijeyabandara from Vishaka Vidyalaya Colombo, Sameera Gamlath from Nalanda College Colombo and Sameera Erandaka Ariyarathna from Gampaha Bandaranayake Vidyalaya, will represent Sri Lanka in International Biology Olympiad in Japan. Dr Hiran Amarasekera and Prof H G Nandadasa from University of Sri Jayewardeneprua and Prof M J S Wijeyaratne from University of Kelaniya also participate the completion as the Jury members.
The first International Olympiad was held in Eastern Europe in 1959 in Mathematics. The remaining disciplines quickly followed; Physics (1967), Chemistry (1968) and Informatics in (1989). Biology had its first Olympiad in 1990.
Some of the characteristics of the science Olympiads as compared with those for sports are that they are held annually and intended for secondary school students. The level of questions is above the standard for secondary school education in the world. The theoretical/practical questions are 5 hours long each which demands persistence and determination, as well as discipline. Gold medals are awarded not only to the top achiever but to the top 10% of participants. The Olympiad offers an opportunity for international exchange.
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