9th Junior Science Odyssey: Myanmar won prizes in ASEAN Plus Three event

Singapore hosted the 9th ASEAN Plus Three Junior Science Odyssey (APT JSO) via online for the first time from 20th to 23rd June, 2022. The theme of this year was “Building an Environmentally Sustainable Future.” In this event, Myanmar students participated in science challenges and workshops, interact virtually with sustainability researchers. The APT JSO aims to encourage talented secondary school students in the ASEAN Plus Three countries to stimulate their intellectual curiosity and motivate them to pursue careers in the field of science and technology.

From Myanmar, 2 teams of students from B.E.H.S (1) Dagon and B.E.H.S (1) Thingangyun were allowed to compete in the APT JSO competitions and won prizes in group competitions. 

Director, Yangon Region Education Office, Khin Than Oo said "Contestants must be under 15 years of age and each team comprised of up to 3 students and 1 teacher. For the 9th competition, we have two teams from B.E.H.S (1) Dagon and B.E.H.S (1) Thingangyun. The team from B.E.H.S (1) Dagon won the 2nd and 3rd prizes and the team from B.E.H.S (1) Thingangyun won the 2nd prize. The prizes are given as a group. "

The selected schools for the competition had to prepare together with a professor from a university. The professor provides detailed training – regarding the recent competition, a professor provided preparations on chemistry and science.  

Professor, Department of Computer Science (YU), Dr. Soe Mya Mya Aye said "The Ministry of Education asked us to help the teams for the competition. So we allowed them to use our department room. We helped them with science processes. The competition provides students opportunities to form international friendships and networks. "

Also, for the teams to prepare for the competition, the Department of Industrial Chemistry gave lectures on environmental sustainability, knowledge sessions and experimental works. 

Silver Award Winner, B.E.H.S (1) Dagon, Pyae Sone Chan Thar said "We competed via the Zoom application and we got the second prize as a team B. The title of our team presentation was Ocean Access Aeration about how carbon dioxide gets into the ocean. Our team was comprised of 6 students from including Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The main purpose of the event is preserving the environment, so we learned a lot about environmental issues. "

From the competition, Myanmar students gained international experience and fellowship with students from ASEAN Plus Three region. This year, the event was organized by the Ministry of Education Singapore, Science Centre Singapore and ACGS in partnership with the NUS High School of Mathematics and Science.