Curiosity, Innovation, and the Pursuit of Scientific Knowledge in VANDA International Science Competition

We have grown from curiosity to knowledge and become passionate about science. BINUS SCHOOL Serpong can satisfy your thirst for discovery and fuel your passion for science as you dive into the fascinating world of wonder and innovation. In a remarkable display of intellect and dedication, our four students earned silver and gold medals: Catherine from grade 12F (gold medal), Marcellus Dennis from grade 12H (gold medal), Nathan Efren from grade 11H (silver medal), and Tobey Darmawan from grade 9E (silver medal); at VANDA International Science Competition. This outstanding achievement showcases the student’s exceptional abilities and highlights the importance of nurturing scientific talent in the educational ecosystem.

VANDA is a prestigious International Science Competition held annually around the world. It focuses on the student’s ability to think critically and creatively to pick out hidden information to aid them in solving the question. VANDA is for students from primary 3 to secondary 4 (Grade 3 to Grade 11), and the subjects are biology, physics, and chemistry. It follows the Singapore School Science Syllabus focusing on higher-order thinking skills. The VANDA International Science Competition was held in BINUS SCHOOL Simprug this year.

It was challenging for Catherine and Marcellus because they had just prepared a few days before the competition and studied by looking at past papers of the VANDA Competition. Catherine said, “There were some easy questions and complex questions, but I was able to answer most of those questions.” On the other hand, Nathan was confident with his answers because he had prepared for this competition, which was really hard, by watching the science YouTube video and reading a book for 1 to 2 hours every day. He mentions his teacher, Ms. Indah, his chemistry teacher, who always supports him in this VANDA Competition. For Tobey, this is his first time joining the VANDA Competition, and he got a lot of help from his teacher, Mr. Aat, who helped him with courses and past papers from VANDA.

“It was amazing, and I didn’t expect it for my first time joining this competition,” the silver medalist -Tobey said.

BINUS SCHOOL Serpong gave a lot of help and support to them because they usually learn science with a similar curriculum at school. From that, they gain more understanding and knowledge that makes them become more passionate and more into the subject. It serves as a reminder that with the proper support, encouragement, and opportunities, students can truly shine and make a remarkable impact in their chosen fields.

All medalists share some tips and tricks to achieve success at the VANDA Competition, which are to do every task one by one, don’t overthink things, know priorities, focus on the next task, apply time management to make sure and understand the marking scheme works and pay attention to the time to make sure can finish before the limit time.

The journey of this remarkable student does not end here. Their success serves as an inspiration to aspiring young scientists across the world, encouraging them to embrace their passion for science and reach for the stars. This achievement ignites hope and sets a precedent for future generations to continue pushing the boundaries and #DiscoverNewHorizons of scientific knowledge with BINUS SCHOOL Serpong.