Taiwanese students won two gold, three silver and two bronze medals as well as an honorable mention in the just-concluded 2008 Asian Physics Olympiad, an official of the Ministry of Education said yesterday.
A total of 136 students from 18 countries participated in the event held between April 20 and yesterday in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.
Taiwan sent eight senior high school students to the competition.
The two gold medalists were Ho Ying-you (何應佑), a student at the National Experimental High School at the Science-based Industrial Park in Hsinchu, and Chu Po-yu (朱柏聿) from Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School.
Ho, who excels in chemistry, physics and computer program design, also won a gold medal in the International Chemistry Olympiad last year.
He said he hoped to pursue advanced studies at prominent international universities abroad after obtaining a bachelor’s degree at home.
He promised to dedicate himself to the study of basic science and to contribute to the nation’s scientific development.
Chu, who earned the bronze medal in last year’s Asian Physics Olympiad, now studies in Jianguo High School’s elite class.
Chu is also a cofounder of the school’s institute of robot study.
A ministry official said that Taiwan had won 22 gold, 19 silver and 17 bronze medals — as well as six honorary mentions — since the annual competition was first held in Indonesia in 2000.
The eight Taiwanese in this year’s competition will head to Beijing and Xian, China, for educational exchanges after leaving Mongolia tomorrow.
They are scheduled to return home on Saturday.
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