The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha Assam, recently hosted a massive Science and Maths Olympiad in an effort to ignite scientific curiosity and enhance mathematical proficiency among students in the state.
This event, one of the largest of its kind in the country, drew the participation of an impressive 1.14 lakh students from 3,828 schools across Assam. The primary objective of this Olympiad was to nurture talent, promote critical thinking, and develop problem-solving abilities among students in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
The event, held in collaboration with the education department of Assam, aimed to expand students’ knowledge and creativity through a series of rigorous competitions and engaging activities.
Professor Parameswar K Iyer, Dean PRBR at IIT Guwahati, expressed the institute’s commitment to enhancing STEM activities throughout the state, stating, “IIT Guwahati has been working very closely with the education department of Assam in enhancing the STEM activities across the state and promoting it through lively activities such as Olympiads.”
Professor Rajeev Ahuja, Officiating Director of IIT Guwahati, congratulated the winners and emphasized the institute’s dedication to improving the quality of STEM education in Assam and the northeast region.
He mentioned, “IIT Guwahati is very happy to organize this Olympiad event and will do everything in its capacity to enhance the quality of STEM education in Assam and the northeast region and promote activities related to STEM education by engaging with all stakeholders of the education sector.”
The objectives of the Olympiad were manifold: to cultivate a culture of scientific inquiry and mathematical reasoning among school students, identify and nurture talented individuals in STEM subjects, provide a competitive platform for students to demonstrate their skills, raise awareness about the significance of STEM education among students and educators, and foster innovation and critical thinking skills among students.
The Olympiad consisted of two phases: an OMR-based physical pen-and-paper test for secondary school students across Assam, followed by a state-level round. The district-level test took place on 18th March 2024, where the top 2 performers from each district were selected to advance to the final round held at IIT Guwahati.
On 30th March 2024, the final round of the Olympiad took place with 62 finalists from classes 9th and 10th competing for top honors. The 3 state winners emerged from this competition, with Chandan Kaushik Saikia from Namdeuri HS, Jorhat, securing the 1st Prize, Jnanarun Hazarika from Dhalasatra HS, Jorhat, claiming the 2nd Prize, and Arjun Karki from Hawaipur HS, West Karbianglong, clinching the 3rd Prize.
IIT Guwahati, known for its holistic development approach, collaborates closely with the Government of Assam on various projects. One such collaboration is with Samagra Shiksha Assam under the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan, resulting in initiatives like the Science and Maths Olympiad.
The institute’s involvement extends to mentoring schools across Assam, establishing Science and Maths Clubs in schools, setting up live labs with hands-on experience, providing residential teacher training, enhancing curriculum, conducting school outreach activities, organizing visits to the IIT Guwahati campus, and offering training programs for school principals.
The Science and Maths Olympiad organized by IIT Guwahati and Samagra Shiksha Assam provided students with a valuable platform to showcase their creativity, ingenuity, and passion for STEM subjects. Through initiatives like this, the aim is to not only recognize and reward talent but also to inspire and cultivate the next generation of scientists, mathematicians, and innovators in Assam.
