DUSHANBE, April 20, 2009, Asia-Plus – International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering & Environment) Project Olympiad (I-SPEEEP 2009) was held in Huston, Texas on April 15-19.

The Olympiad held at the George R. Brown Convention Center was organized by Cosmos Foundation (Harmony Public Schools) under sponsorship of KBR.  The cosponsors included Halliburton, BP, Shell Rice University, University of Houston, Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, University of Pennsylvania.

By decision made by jury consisting of 150 professors and lecturers from leading US universities two students from Dushanbe International School – Sorbon Rahmatov and Muhriddin Mahamdrahim – were given gold for project in the Environment category in the senior division.  Two other Tajik school students – Olim Hakimzoda and Shahobiddin Nazarzoda  from Tajik-Turkish Lyceum – won bronze in the Engineering category and students from this lyceum – Shodmon Bobokhonzoda and Azam Jamshed – were given a special prize of the jury for originality of the project idea.

I-SWEEEP is a groundbreaking science competition open to middle and high school students.  The goal of I-SWEEEP is to bring the best and brightest math and science focused student projects from around the world to Houston. It works with local, national, and international science fair organizations to bring together the top-ranking participants and qualifying projects from these competitions.  The projects are judged by industry professionals and academicians from area universities such as Rice and University of Houston.  Winners not only receive a medal for their effort, but a scholarship from universities.