4 Lankan kids to attend Intel ISEF competition

Globally dominant chipmaker Intel will be sponsoring four secondary school students from Sri Lanka in competition at the 63rd International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), according to an announcement by the company's local unit.

Sponsored annually by Intel, ISEF is a global 'science fair' encompassing 1,500 secondary school level students, in grades nine, 10, 11 and 12, from over 70 countries. The event will be held this year over six days, starting from May 12, in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

The four Sri Lankan students attending ISEF are P.C. Wijesena from Ananda College, Colombo, and K.P.D.A.C. Kapuge from Mihintala Maha Vidyalaya, Mihintalaya, with R.S. Gamage and G.B.R.D. Malewana from Nalanda College, Colombo.

The students from Ananda College and Mihintala Maha Vidyalaya were indicated as being the winner and runner-up, respectively, for the individual category of the Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) 2013. While the two students from Nalanda College were noted to have made up the team that won the group category at SLSEF 2013. It was also signalled that the SLSEF 2013 was a precursor event to ISEF 2013.

Meanwhile, also emerging; "Over the past five years, 21 Sri Lankan students have participated at Intel ISEF while over ten officials have attended the Intel Educator Academy. Sri Lanka has won two grand awards and four special awards to date at the event".

Additionally, also highlighted; "Master Wijesena had presented 'Kinecto' - a software system to assist the physically challenged with using a computer at the event while Master Kapuge had demonstrated a ridge cutting machine.

Master Gamage and Master Malewana, the team from Nalanda shared the results of their study on the effects of plant extract to increase platelet count in Wistar rats with induced low platelet count".