The winners of Sri Lanka Science & Engineering Fair (SLSEF) 2007 at Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Winners of Sri Lanka Science & Engineering Fair (SLSEF) 2007 for Intel ISEF 2008

The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) named Yasith Kanchana Lokuge of Ananda College, Colombo, Praveej Malinda Jayasinghe of St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota and Sajeewa Dinesh Hendurugoda of Nugawela Central College, Nugawela as winners from Junior Inventor of the Year (JIY) competition of Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF).  The winners will be sent to the world’s largest pre-college science competition, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), to be held in May 2008 in Atlanta, USA.

The innovative ideas that won include: a low-cost Nutmeg Cutter designed by Praveej Jayasinghe to extract nutmeg seeds in an efficient manner and thereby expedite the manufacturing process of nutmegs in the local industry, Yasith Lokuge’s space-saving Collapsible Staircase that can save up to 90% of the space consumed by spiral staircases and Sajeewa Hendurugoda’s invention of a device that automatically distributes water to a plant when the water content or moisture of a particular part of the plant drops below a specified level.

While Sajeewa Hendurugoda will be sent to the 59th Intel ISEF as an observer, Yasith Lokuge and Praveeja Jayasinghe will compete with 1,500 other students from over 51 nations for over 900 prizes and $4 million in scholarships, scientific equipment and scientific trips.

The SLSEF will continue to provide young science students with the impetus to discover their scientific genius and the platform to win public recognition at the national and international level, as per the objectives of Memorandum of Understanding signed by the organizers earlier this year.  It will be held annually and will continue offer youth from around the country the opportunity to inculcate a scientific temperament and enhance their innovative thinking, so that they can take their talents and their country, to an international plateau of recognition.

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Sri Lankan Children At Intel International Science & Engineering Fair 2008

Three students who won the Sri Lanka Science & Engineering Fair (SLSEF) 2007 participated at the Intel Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2008 in Atlanta for the very first time.  First finalist Yasith Lokuge and second finalist Praveej Jayasinghe competed at the event while Sajeewa Hendurugoda participated as an observer.  Eng. Sarath Samarasiri the Director, Design Centre of University of Moratuwa and a member of IESL who went as the adult in charge performed a very admirable role by guiding and looking after the children right throughout the journey.

This year all three children were selected from the Junior Inventor of the Year (JIY) competition of Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) which has been conducting this for the past 23 years in the country.

Picture from left: Sajeewa Hendurugoda, Praveej Jayasinghe and Yasith Lokuge at Intel ISEF 2008 Awards Ceremony

This was an unbelievable experience to the kids and the officials from Sri Lanka and the reception given to them by Intel ISEF was magnanimous.  They thoroughly enjoyed the competition and both their projects were considered for President’s Scholarship Award of IEEE Foundation.  Even though they did not win any prizes this time the officials are quite confident that they could do so in the near future with the learning they gained at this year’s competition.

In parallel to the competition, Intel ISEF Educator Academy 2008 was held in Atlanta, which brought together a select group of educators and government officials from Intel sites around the world to explore proven, innovative methods of engaging students in the study of science and math.  At this forum Sri Lanka was represented by Mr. Anura Dissanayake, Director, Secondary Education Modernization Project (SEMP) of Ministry of Education, Professor M. T. M. Jiffry, Chairperson, Advisory Committee of National Science Foundation (NSF), Eng. J. Meegoda, Chairperson Junior Inventor of the Year (JIY) Competition of Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) and Mr. Priyantha Weerabahu, Intel Education Program Manager for Sri Lanka.

Picture from left: Eng. J. Meegoda, Prof. M. T. M. Jiffry, Mr. Anura Dissanayake and Mr. Priyantha Weerabahu at Intel ISEF Educator Academy 2008

During the five-day forum, outstanding educators presented workshops on student research, project-based learning and other proven ways to engage students in the study of science and mathematics including Nobel laureate Dr. Rich Roberts. Also, experienced science fair organizers shared resources and provided participants with valuable information about managing, organizing, and preparing students for science fairs.

“The Intel ISEF 2008 was for the first time represented by three students from Sri Lanka. As a person who has been involved for a considerable period on conducting similar activities through the National Science Foundation (NSF) of Sri Lanka, I found the experience we have gained as organisers as well as prospective participants at the Intel ISEF held in Atlanta, Georgia were immense and gave us opportunities to identify the strengths and weaknesses of our competitors. The organisers were also very friendly and provided all the opportunities for the participants to interact with other stakeholders and participants.” Prof. M. T. M. Jiffry.

Sri Lankan team was elated by the fact that one of the three USD 50,000 Scholarship Grand Prize winners at Intel ISEF 2008 was a Sri Lankan student Natalie Saranga Omattage of Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Columbus, Mississippi.  Therefore, the Sri Lankan team is determined to improve the local competitions to compete at a higher level in the years to come.

From next year Junior Inventor of the Year (JIY) competition of Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) and Science Research Projects Competition (SRPC) of National Science Foundation (NSF) will be the feeder fairs for Sri Lanka Science & Engineering Fair (SLSEF).

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Felicitation of Winners of Sri Lanka Science & Engineering Fair (SLSEF) 2007

The Hon. Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha felicitated the winners of Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) 2007, Yasith Kanchana Lokuge of Ananda College, Praveej Malinda Jayasinghe of St. Anthony’s College and Sajeewa Dinesh Hendurugoda of Nugawela Central College at the Ministry of Education, Battaramulla on 8th May 2008.

Picture from left: Winners of Sri Lanka Science & Engineering Fair (SLSEF), their parents, officials of Ministry of Education, National Science Foundation, Institution of Engineers and Intel with the Hon. Minister of Education

This was done prior to their visit to Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in May 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.  All three children received a certificate and a monetary gift from the Hon. Minister of Education, while Yasith Kanchana Lokuge was awarded the “Herbert Hoover Young Engineer Award”, which consisted of a certificate and a medal.

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