The Israeli students won 3 silver medals and 2 bronze medals. The competition included 82 countries - the Israeli team was ranked 19th overall (third among Western countries).
An achievement for the Israeli delegation at the International Physics Olympiad: in the competition that ended last night, in the city of Mumbai, India, the Israeli physics team won 5 Olympic medals, 3 silver medals and 2 bronze medals.
The International Physics Olympiad included 82 countries, and at the end of it, Israel was ranked 19th overall (third among Western countries). The Chinese team won first place, followed by Korea (2nd place) and Taiwan (3rd place). The USA (4) and Germany (14) are the only two Western countries that were ranked above Israel.
The Israeli delegation included 5 students: Shaked Rosenstein - silver medal (Vizzo Youth Village, Nir Hamek), Tom Segal - silver medal (Urban B. Modi'in), Nir Yaron - silver medal (Jerusalem Arts and Sciences High School), Ilan Mitnikov - bronze medal ( Moshe Sharet High School, Nazareth Illit), Moran Shapira (Western Valley High School, Yifat).
The delegation was headed by Dr. Eli Raz, head of the physics and optical engineering department at Brauda College in Karmiel and physics lecturer at the Technion.
Dr. Eli Raz emphasized that "the extensive knowledge that the students gain in training and international competitions is a tremendous springboard for them before entering the academy. Experience shows that the graduates of the science olympiads are chosen several years later as outstanding students at the universities and constitute the cutting edge of the scientific reserve in Israel."
Minister of Education Naftali Bennett congratulated the students and said: "You are a source of pride for all of us, you are the leading marker of the State of Israel in the field of science. The excellence, the motivation to succeed, perseverance and determination are a role model for all Israeli students."
