Today's Zaman
This year all 23 students representing Turkey through the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) in the International Science Olympics received medals in various branches of science.
The number of gold medals Turkey received in the past five years has exceeded the total number of gold medals received in the previous 20 years. Since 1985, Turkey has received a total of 39 gold medals, 127 silver medals, 197 bronze medals and 42 achievement awards.
This year all 23 students who represented Turkey in the Olympics returned with a medal in hand. A total of six students received gold, 10 received silver and seven had bronze medals.
According to information obtained by the Anatolia news agency, TÜBİTAK is organizing various national and international science competitions to bring up future scientists by revealing students’ potential. The National Science Olympics takes place every year in physics, biology, information technology, mathematics and chemistry.
This year Turkey broke its record in medals in the 52nd International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), which took place in Amsterdam. Turkey received 159 points and placed sixth in the point rankings after China, USA, Singapore, Russia and Thailand. In medal rankings, Turkey came in fifth with three gold, two silver and one bronze medal.
Turkish students did not receive any gold medals from 1985 to 1990 and received only two gold medals from 1991 to 1995. Turkey’s gold medals increased, as its students received nine between 1996 and 2000, eight between 2001 and 2005 and 20 between 2006 and 2011.
On the other hand, the number of gold medals received in the last five years of the Balkan Olympics has increased by 100 percent. TÜBİTAK officials stated that special training is provided for students who participate in the International Science Olympics, is one of the biggest impacts of their success in the Balkan Olympics.
Students who are ranked in the National Science Olympics are awarded medals and cash awards by TÜBİTAK. These students are called to study in special winter revision classes to prepare for the International Science Olympics.
These students receive extra points in the Undergraduate Placement Examination (LYS), according to the points they received in the Olympics. Other than cash awards, TÜBİTAK also provides scholarships for students who get a medal in the Olympics.
Students who receive a gold medal get TL 10,000 cash, students with a silver medal receive TL 8,000, students who are awarded bronze medal receive TL 6,000 and students who get an honorable mention get TL 4,000. These students also have the opportunity to get into any undergraduate program at any private university without taking the LYS exam.
For the past 12 years, the Private Samanyolu College in Ankara has sent more students than any other school.
The breakdown of the schools students were selected from is as follows: Ankara Private Samanyolu College (8), Private Yamanlar College (4), İstanbul Private Bahçeşehir Science and Technology College (3), İstanbul College (2), Antalya Private Toros Mediterranean College (1), İstanbul Atatürk College (1), Van Serhat College (1), Erzurum Aziziye College (1), İstanbul Private Kasımoğlu Coşkun College (1) and İstanbul Private Robert College (1).
Published on Today's Zaman, 10 August 2011, Wednesday
