A UAE pupil has won bronze at the International Physics Olympiad 2018 this week, marking a first for the country.
A team of five from the UAE travelled to compete with nearly 400 pupils from 87 countries at the event in Lisbon, Portugal, this week.
The Olympiad is a physics competition involving secondary school pupils from all over the world and with questions at the difficulty level of a bachelor’s degree in physics.
Edward Garemo, 18, a pupil at Brighton College Abu Dhabi, won a bronze medal for his answers to questions about electrical components, viscoelasticity, gravitational waves, dissipative radiation, fragments produced in particle accelerators and biological systems.
The competition is divided into two parts: a practical exam and a theoretical one.
The UAE have been taking part in the Olympiad since 2015, but this is the first time the country has won a medal.
“I’m a Swedish expat and attend a British school. I am now getting to represent the country where I’ve spent a large portion of my childhood. Science transcends borders and the UAE’s physics team is evidence of that,” said Mr Garemo.
“Physics excites me because of the insights it provides about the world and the way things operate. Few events draw together so much raw talent, dedication to and passion for a subject as the International Science Olympiad.
“I’m super excited to go again next year to secure a silver or a gold for the UAE.”
Ashwin Sudheer, 17, a pupil at Gems Education Our Own English School, Sharjah, Pratyaksh Gupta, 17, from Abu Dhabi Indian School, and Prijith Babu Pradeep, 18, from Indian High School in Dubai, also won honourable mentions at the competition.
Nikhil Sharma, co-ordinator at the International Olympiad Foundation UAE, said that participating in such events helps children secure admission to top universities while allowing them the opportunity to interact with children from different cultures.
“Last time, we only won one honourable mention, but this time we won a bronze medal and three honourable mentions. It’s a great achievement for the UAE,” said Mr Sharma.
The International Olympiad Foundation ensures that participants who hope to compete in the Olympiad have to study a rigorous syllabus that contains a blend of British, American and Indian curriculums.
The best performers are picked for the UAE team following two qualifying rounds.
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