Japan is hosting two International Science Olympiads next month. To all the young people who will be participating, we wish them the best of luck.

The International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO), the oldest of the science Olympiads, was first held in 1959. Japan took part in it for the first time in 1990.

Today, Japan’s Science Olympiad committee supports competitions in seven fields, namely, mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, informatics, earth science and geography. There also are international philosophy and linguistics competitions.

More than 18,000 high school students participated in the qualifying rounds in those seven fields in 2022. The first round consisted of written tests and the screening of reports submitted by applicants. The second round decided the winners who would be representing Japan in the International Olympiads, based on their written test and practical skills test scores. The chosen candidates attended a training camp prior to taking part in the international competitions.

This year, the International Mathematic Olympiad (IMO) is being held in Chiba Prefecture in July, while Tokyo will host the first International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in which Japan is participating.

Japan will also be participating for the first time in the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrohysics in Poland, and in the International Economics Olympiad in Greece.

Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded to a certain portion of top scorers, who will make up about 50 percent of all entrants. Almost all Japanese entrants have received those medals.

Some contestants surprise the preparers of test questions by coming up with totally unexpected solutions. In recent years, students from China and South Korea are said to have stood out. Some nations are reinforcing training programs at home.

During international contests, participants have an opportunity to engage in in-depth discussions on issues of mutual interest at the dorm, as well as by participating in tours and sports and soaking up the host country’s traditional culture.

One benefit of these contests, including the preliminaries, is that contestants not only acquire knowledge from attending classes and studying for tests, but also become absorbed in subjects that interest them and eventually commit to pursuing them in more depth.

Meeting new people, sharing new experiences and stimulating one another serve to broadens a person’s vision, which can prepare them for going abroad later to study or sign up for a joint international research project.

This can produce a ripple effect when talented young people reach their full potential. Looking around the world, we see how many such people, who are capable of thinking outside the box, developed ideas that led to technological innovations and mega-businesses and contributed to society.

Many Japanese participants in the International Olympiads are from urban prep schools that provide ample contest opportunities. But lately, more students are being selected from more rural public senior high schools. This apparently owes to the greater availability of information online today that can be readily shared.

Among participants in preliminaries, female students now make up a majority in biology, and around 30 percent in earth science, geography and chemistry.

It is vital to create an environment that enables all interested high school students to participate in the Olympiads, irrespective of their gender, place of birth and school.

Although government subsidies and corporate grants are available for selecting the candidates and running the events, the work also relies on volunteers who are students or high school and university teachers. And since the degree of commitment by local administrative entities and schools varies, we hope the central government and sponsoring corporations will expand their support.

The international Science Olympiads cannot be enjoyed simply like athletic events, and efforts are clearly needed to drum up society’s interest in them.

And in every field, the presence of high schoolers with global ambitions should stimulate their peers.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 28