Wednesday October 24, 2012
Kedah trio win National Science Challenge
PUTRAJAYA: They may have been last-minute entries, but a trio of plucky teenagers from SMJK Sin Min Kedah proved they were no pushovers as they outsmarted three other teams to win the National Science Challenge 2012.
The team, comprising Form Four students Tan Tun Jian, Heng Mei Pei and Khong Yi Kye were over the moon after beating top students from three other schools in the finals here as they didn't really expect to lift the Prime Minister's challenge trophy.
“At first we had hoped to win, but then our teacher advised us to just focus on doing our best... so we just did our best,” said an elated Tan.
It was an emphatic victory for the Kedah lads, who had earlier been trailing in third place after the end of two of the four rounds in the finals.
The situation however appeared to have strengthened their resolve, as they turned the tables on their opponents in a final sprint to earn a clear win with a total of 340 points.
Finishing second were SMK St Francis Malacca with 320 points, followed in third by SM St Michael Sabah (250 points) and fourth by SMK Tinggi Bukit Mertajam Penang (240 points).
For the win, the Sin Min team earned themselves the privilege to visit Stockholm, Sweden to attend the Nobel prize award presentation in December.
It is an all-expense paid trip.
The challenge is an annual event organised by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, and is endorsed by the Science, Technology and In - novation and Education ministries and sponsored by Exxon Mobil Subsidiaries Malaysia.