The OlympiYeda, (Knowledge Olympics), Madatech's science and technology annual contest is held in cooperation with the U.S Embassy and the Technion Institution, and is approved by Israel’s Ministry of Education. The OlympiYeda is a national project of 24 years. Its objective is, in accordance to Madatech's goals, to draw youth to science and technology, encourage them to study and engage in these fields and search, locate and foster the gifted and talented ones, while promoting co-existence among young Israelis from the Jewish and Arab sectors.
The festive closing event was held at MadaTech in the presence of hundreds of students, teachers, families and U.S. Embassy, Ministry of Education and the Technion's representatives.
This year’s first prize winner is Yara Jabar from the Orthodox high school in Haifa, who was granted a full scholarship for one year at the Technion.
Nitzan Shapira from Kibbutz Yifat's Western Valley Comprehensive School came in second and received 75% scholarship worth; third place was a tie between Afek Ben Simon from Netanya's Sharet Comprehensive School and Muhamad Musa from Majd-al-Kurum Comprehensive School, both receiving 50% worth of scholarship.
Eli Shermeister, MadaTech's General Director and Mr. Thomas Genton, Counselor for Press and Cultural Affairs for the U.S. Embassy spoke at the ceremony and Ruaa Knaan, a 9th grader at Tamra's Alfraby Junior High spoke in the name of students.
About 4,000 8th and 9th graders from over 100 schools from the Jewish and Arab sectors across Israel, took part in the OlimpiYeda's first stage, launched on February 2014. 700 of them received relevant study materials on aviation and space and went on to participate in the second stage that took place on May.
100 semi-finalists met at MadaTech's labs for a full day of scientific experiments and challenges.
30 selected finalists took part in a ten day science camp hosted by MadaTech and the Technion in August 2014. The students and their instructors enjoyed an exciting program of scientific tours in northern Israel, lectures, lab work and social activities, promoting co-existence and a mutual love of science.
In November the group of finalists visited two schools, Arab & Jewish. They gave short talks on scientific topics, and conducted special scientific activities to 8th grade students.
Madatech's project coordinator is Ms. Yona Klein.
Instructors: Jennifer Mazgal, Moshe Herskowitz and Rim Zaydan.
The OlympiYeda received high praise for both its academic level and its social value from the external evaluator Dr. Haggai Kupermintz of Haifa University. The young participants' parents also expressed considerable satisfaction with the project.
