Thai students shine at Astronomy Olympiad

Thai students shine at Astronomy Olympiad

Thai students came away with three gold and two silver medals at the first International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, held in Chiang Mai yesterday.

Representatives from 21 countries around the world joined the competition, held at the Lotus Pang Sung Kaew Hotel, in commemoration of His Majesty the King's 80th birthday and HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana's 84th birthday.

The Thai contingent was made up of five students - two from Suan Kulab School and one each from Mahidol Wittaya-nusorn School, Srinakharin-wirot University's Patumwan Demonstration School and Piyamaharaj Wittayalai School in Nakhon Phanom.

Suwan Suwannarat and Punnawitch Kongpitaksakul, Mathayom 4 students at Suan Kulab, picked up gold medals. Suwan also won the top scroll.

The other gold medal was awarded to Chayanon Ruam-charoen from Piyamaharaj Wittayalai.

Mathayom 5 student Theerasith Issaranont from Mahidol Wittayanusorn bagged one silver medal, with the other going to Mathayom 6 student Sirawis Surapreuk from Patumwan Demonstration School.

Aree Sawasdi, president of the Thai Astronomical Society, said all five medals would be presented to His Majesty and the Royal Family.

It was the King's initiative for Thailand to hold the first International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. Next year, Indonesia will play host to the second annual event.

Aree said she was thrilled that Thai students had triumphed at the first ever Olympiad. All the Thai representatives had to take a 10-day crash course on astronomy, mathematics and science.

Suwan said he was very proud to snatch gold. He called on fellow students to pay more attention to astronomy and prepare diligently for classes.

"Work hard and you too can win a medal," he said.

Aree said Thailand had started by sending students to an international astronomy competition organised by Russia four years ago, but they could only manage silver and bronze medals.

The Nation