Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) of India, in collaboration with the UNESCO Office in New Delhi, is organizing the Science Olympiad 2011 for science students currently enrolled in India’s 11^th standard, or its equivalent in Nepal. The competition is open to all students who are nationals of SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and  Sri Lanka). 

The purpose of the Science Olympiad is to search for and motivate science talent in the SAARC region. It is the collective aim of IGNOU and UNESCO to encourage students not only to participate in national and international science and IT competitions and programmes, but also to instil a feeling of belonging to the national and global science fraternity.

In order to be eligible, participants should currently be enrolled at the 11^th standard/class level in a higher secondary school in India, or an equivalent grade in schools in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Entrees must have passed a scientific subject in the science branch, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology at MPCB or equivalent, at their 10^th standard/class (or its equivalent) final examination, and have scored a minimum of 60 per cent. 

Students interested in entering are invited to visit the official website to read about eligibility criteria, instructions, prizes and to register online, at: http://scienceolympiad.ignou.ac.in/   

The last date for online registration is 31 July 2011. For participants from Nepal, registration fees have been waived. 

For enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Bhanu Neupane

UNESCO New Delhi Office

Tel:    +91 11 26713000

Email:   b.neupane(at)unesco.org

And/ Or:

UNESCO Office in Kathmandu

Tel.: + 977 1 5554396

http://www.unesco.org/en/kathmandu

Kathmandu, 20 July 2011

Press Release UNESCO/KAT 10/2011