According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, Saeed Shabani Rokn Vafa, the executive secretary of the international BEBRAS challenge explained about the event: this event was started on 2005 and is active in the area of computer sciences and computational thinking. With the advent of computers since the 1950s, computer science becomes increasingly important every day. In the same way, in recent years, attention has been paid to this science in the developed countries, and the teaching of computational algorithmic thinking and computer science concepts has entered the formal curriculum for students.

According to Shabani, the Fatemi cultural Institute has come up with research on this subject to reach the computer literacy program for students for more than three years. The program includes extension packages for schools, virtual tutorials and cyber-cultural content for students as well as a promotional event called the International Bobby Challenge.

What Is “BEBRAS” Challenge?

Shabani expressed: this challenge is carried out to familiarize students with computer sciences from young ages using simpler and more general contents. The event is held in various countries and there is a general assembly in which more than 60 countries are members.

According to Shabani, this event is held to motivate students, parents, educational authorities and state and non-state managers to learn more about this area since all of these people must be familiarized with the importance of computer sciences so that more extensive programs could be carried out in the future.

Challenge Stages

Shabani mentioned that the first stage of the test will be held this December. He added: at this stage, students from three levels of fourth-sixth grades of elementary school, seventh-ninth grades of high school and 10^th-12^th grades will participate in the challenge. In addition, they can participate in the event using any type of device (tablet, laptop, computer). In total, 15 puzzles are considered for the participants that must be solved under one hour and a half by younger individuals and under one hour by older participants. It is notable that some of the puzzles are like games.

The executive secretary of the international BEBRAS challenge explained about the second stage of the event: students are faced with 15 online questions in the second stage. However, they must participate in this stage by attending one computer site in a specific location. After that, the fourth-sixth winners will receive awards, and high-school students will be able to attend a short educational course that will be held in summer 2019 in IPM center.

The first stage of the 16^th round of the international “BEBRAS” challenge in the area of computer sciences and computational thinking will be held December 8^th-13^th, 2018 by the support of the knowledge-based economy and culture building technologies development headquarter.