Thai Team Wins Big

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CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD

Thai team wins big

By The Nation

Thai students have won three gold medals and one silver at the 42nd International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) held in Tokyo from July 19-28.

Pornpan Vitayangkorn, deputy director of the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), said yesterday that a team member - Pinnaree Tiamangkornpan from Triam Udon Suksa School - also got full marks in the theory exam.

A total of 267 students from 68 countries competed in this Olympiad. China, Russia and South Korea won the highest scores. Thai students Alif Noikham of Mahidol Wittayanusorn School, Khetpakorn Chakhornwet of Triam Udon Suksa School, and Pinnaree won gold medals, while Jiraborirak Charoenpatpreeda of Suan Kularp Wittayalai School received a silver medal, Pornpan said.

Alif, who also won a silver medal at the 41st IChO in England, said he read textbooks and practised on chemistry questions to prepare for the Olympiad. After class he liked playing basketball with friends and also played computer games after completing his reading routines.

Khetpakorn said that representing Thailand in such a competition helped increase educational opportunities for him, especially in chemical experimenting, because there were few lab experiments in class that focused on theory. Experimenting was important as it helped students test their knowledge and find solutions.

Pinnaree, who also won a silver medal at the 41st IChO, said Olympiads gave children life experience and a chance to do what interested them. To succeed in life, she said, she followed Buddhism's principle of four miraculous powers (itthibat) comprising firm determination, earnest meditation, persevering exertion and close investigation. The team's sole female member said she also liked studying mathematics, English language and piano.

Jiraborirak said he had worked hard for three years to become the country's representative and this year he had finally made it. He said he loved chemistry because he could do experiments and work on challenging questions. He said he wanted to become a university teacher, as he would love to pass on knowledge to new generations.

-- The Nation 2010-07-28

[Robby nz]

Seems bad news on this forum gets the most comments.

Congratulations again kids and also to the schools and teachers who inspire these students.

[marvinberry]

Good work! Well done!

Always nice to see some good news on ThaiVisa.com!

[jayjay0]

Well done gang. You are the future and your achievements show the world that Thailand is more than just a country to have a cheap holiday in.

[Motoon]

Positive news and good prospects for the future. Congratulations.

[TheWalkingMan]

Well done to the kids!

TheWalkingMan

[Piengrudee]

Can anyone post the list of all the winners. I am quite sure more than half gets medals. .

Every country post similar headlines. .

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/87/i31/8731notw1.html

Edited July 28, 2010 by Piengrudee

[Piengrudee]

http://www.icho2009.co.uk/files/pdf/final_results_ICHO_2009.pdf I found the link, I was right. Almost all people get medals. I am not saying that these boys & girls were not bright or hardworking. All I am saying is that most people get a medal anyway, what's the point? Example, in 2010 world cup, 5 countries won the world cup, 5 more countries win silver, and another 5 won bronze. . http://www.icho2009.co.uk/files/pdf/final_results_ICHO_2009.pdf

[Payboy]

http://www.icho2009.co.uk/files/pdf/final_results_ICHO_2009.pdf I found the link, I was right. Almost all people get medals. I am not saying that these boys & girls were not bright or hardworking. All I am saying is that most people get a medal anyway, what's the point? Example, in 2010 world cup, 5 countries won the world cup, 5 more countries win silver, and another 5 won bronze. . http://www.icho2009.co.uk/files/pdf/final_results_ICHO_2009.pdf

Triam Udon Suksa School

Suan Kularp Wittayalai School

About sums it all up.

[lukeskywalker]

Being an American, this part was embarrassing: "The U.S. team's performance is significant because the U.S. has not won a gold medal since the 2002 competition in Groningen, the Netherlands". From link above.

[Soutpeel]

Just as well The "Nation" journalists are not attending English Olympiad's....wouldnt even get a bronze for this example of "superb" prose.......!!!!

Edited July 28, 2010 by Soutpeel