A Class XII student of JVM-Shyamali in Ranchi has qualified for the International Astronomy Olympiad 2015-16, scheduled in Bhubaneswar in December.
Abhyuday Pandey, a science enthusiast, is the only student from Jharkhand to be creamed off for the prestigious event by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education after he beat 7,999 others from the state in a two-phased national round between November last year and January. One student from every state makes it to the international round.
Sixteen-year-old Abhyuday will receive special training at Homi Bhabha from May 9 to 12 before he represents the country at the international Olympiad. Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education is a national facility of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, with extensive offerings for research and development in the fields of science and mathematics.
"I am excited to say the least. I am eagerly waiting for the December Olympiad dates to be announced," the boy who wants to get into IIT said, adding that he owed his success to his JVM-Shyamali teachers because they inspired him to pursue his knack for science.
The bright boy, whose father is a CRPF commandant in Jharkhand and mother a homemaker, aspires to be a computer engineer from IIT-Mumbai. In recent times, Abhyuday has also won the National Talent Search Examination-2015 and is availing a scholarship of Rs 15,000, besides a fellowship of Rs 4,000 every month for his selection under the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana.
A proud JVM principal A.K. Singh said this was not the first time a student from the school would be representing the International Astronomy Olympiad. "In 2000 and 2004, two students had brought us similar recognition by representing India," he added.
The first phase of the national Olympiad was held on November 23, 2015, and the second on January 31. While 8,000 candidates appeared in the first entrance, 2,000 wrote the second from the state. In Ranchi, there were five examination centres. Around 25 students from JVM had made it to the second phase.
