CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Philippine participants in the first-ever International Nuclear Science Olympiad, held from August 1-6 at New Clark City in Pampanga, brought home two gold and one silver medals.

Teammates Mohammad Nur Casib of the Philippine Science High School – Central Mindanao Campus and Neil Kyle Maniquis of Manila Science High School won gold medals, while Jeremiah Auza of the Philippine Science High School – Central Visayas took home a silver medal.

Casib also achieved the highest score in the theoretical exam and the overall highest score, earning him the title of “Nuclear Ambassador” at the first International Nuclear Science Olympiad.

The list of gold medalists in the Olympiad includes Caldras Tan Hong Xun, Caleb Chia, Tran Doan Duy Phuc, and Wong Kheng Hshin (Singapore); Mohammad Nur G. Casib and Neil Kyle Olaer Maniquis (Philippines); M N Ahamed Mushab (Sri Lanka); and Nopparuj Sodsri (Thailand).

The silver medalists were Nonpawit Koheng, Rawisara Chokdeepanich, and Tharatep Lertpetaiy (Thailand); Isaac Toh Thiam Tek and Lim Yee Jian (Malaysia); Subhan Kashif and Suleman Nouman (Pakistan); Pabasara Kaushalya Maduwage and W. A. Akila Chamodya Bandara (Sri Lanka); Seyedabolfazl Mahdaei (Iran); Jeremiah E. Auza (Philippines); Galvandi Ibrahim (Qatar); and Mohammed Akrikish (Saudi Arabia).

The bronze medalists were Ayda Bina, Seyed Mohammad Sajadiyan, and Shayan Rezazadeh (Iran); Arell Yazid Fazrin Bin Mohd Fauzi and Saratt Suthagar (Malaysia); Ehban Awan and Qasim Salam (Pakistan); Ganzorig Khuslen and Nyam-Ayush Tuvshin (Mongolia); Azzam Khalid Abdullah Alomari, Hala Salman Al Abbad, and Hasan Alawadh (Saudi Arabia); Hasan Aman (Bahrain); Omar Amjad Yousef Shbeita (Jordan); Aditya Vivek (Qatar); and Saayuj Ion Mathew (UAE).

The contestants represented their respective countries as teams, but they competed as individuals. They were ranked according to the points they obtained in two exams, in which Casib emerged as the topnotcher.

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) was the lead organizer of the pioneering Olympiad, which was participated in by countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Bahrain, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, Jordan, and the Philippines.

Julius Caesar Sicat, Department of Science and Technology regional director of Central Luzon, said, “It is such a great week for us Filipinos, conquering competitions on various fronts.”

“It shows that we can be the best in the world both in the physical (Olympics) and intellectual (Nuclear Olympiad) arenas given the right preparations,” Sicat noted, adding, “That is why we are very happy that President BBM has been pushing for reforms in both the academic and physical realms.”

Sicat added, “And I can see that in the near future, the Philippines will be reborn as the President envisioned as the Bagong Pilipinas! Teeming with world-renowned Olympians and nuclear scientists and engineers.”

📷 DOST-PNRI