NEWS




13August
Mohammad Nur G. Casib of Marawi City is one of two Gold medalists from the Philippines at the 1st International Nuclear Science Olympiad. He was hailed as “Nuclear Ambassador” for topping overall among 55 contenders, the theoretical and experimental exams. Photo courtesy of DR. NORODIN CASIB

Moro student hailed as “Nuclear Ambassador” in Olympiad held in New Clark City

COTABATO CITY– Mohammad Nur “Iman” Gumaos Casib of Marawi City, a Moro senior high school student is one of two Filipino gold medalists in the recently concluded 1st International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO) and was hailed “Nuclear Ambassador” for obtaining the highest points overall among 55 contenders from 14 countries.
An incoming Grade 12 student of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Central Mindanao Campus in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, Casib won Gold along with Neil Kyle Olaer Maniquis of Manila Science High School in Manila and six others from other countries in the Olympiad held at the New Clark City in Pampanga on August 1 to 6, a Mindanews report said Saturday, August 10. 

In March this year, Casib also won Gold in the 36th International Math Olympiad held in the University of the Philippines in Diliman, the report also said.

At the INSO, Casib was among two Mindanawons in the Philippine team, the other one from Zamboanga National High School, Romher John Fermil.
INSO is an annual international Science competition for secondary school students aged 15 to 20 years old in the Asia-Pacific region. This year it was participated in by 14 countries: Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and United Arab Emirates, Mindanews report also said.

A report of the INSO Publicity Working Team said that aside from Casib and Maniquis, the six other Gold medalists are: Singapore’s Caldras Tan Hong Xun, Caleb Chia, Tran Doan Duy Phuc and Wong Keng Hshin; M N Ahamed Mushab of Sri Lanka and Nopparuj Sodsri of Thailand.

This is not the first international award received by Casib,  the eldest of four children of surgeon Norodin Casib and gynecologist Sittienor M. Gumaos-Casib, both working in the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City, Mindanews report said.
He has won several Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals since 2018, when he was 12 years old.

In 2023, Casib won Silver in the 16th International Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad (IOAA) in Poland in August, winning for the Philippines the first medal since the country joined the competition in 2010; Silver during the 35th Asian Pacific Mathematical Olympiad (APMO) held online. Also last year, he won two Bronze awards in the month of July: in the 55th International Chemistry Olympiad in Switzerland; and in the 64th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Japan.

In the opening program on August 1, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum stressed that INSO aims to “increase global awareness on the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, particularly on how these are supportive to the current thrust of the science department” which are human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability.

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has yet to file a resolution congratulating Casib. Last year, it passed Resolution 389 congratulating Casib for winning the Bronze in the International Chemistry Olympiad in Zurich, Switzerland, “thereby giving pride and honor to the Bangsamoro People.”