Four Odisha students bring laurels to India at prestigious Sakura Science Programme in Japan

Four meritorious students from Odisha have made the State proud by representing India at the prestigious Sakura Science High School Programme (SSHP) 2026 in Japan, a flagship international initiative aimed at fostering scientific learning and global collaboration among young minds.

Organised by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the programme was held from May 21 to 31, during which the students participated in a series of academic, scientific and cultural exchange activities.

Advertisement

The selected students were Bishnu Prasad Jena of BJB Junior Science School, Bhubaneswar; Shubham Nayak of Government High School, Koraput; Shraddhanjali Pattnaik of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya, Telkoi in Keonjhar district; and Adyasha Panda of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya, Rengali in Sambalpur district.

During their visit, the students attended academic programmes at the Shibaura Institute of Technology and Kashiwa Junior and Senior High School, besides visiting the renowned cities of Tsukuba and Asakusa. They also toured leading universities and research institutions, interacted with researchers and scholars, and attended lectures delivered by Nobel laureates and eminent academicians.

The exposure provided the students with valuable insights into Japan’s cutting-edge advancements in science, technology and innovation, while also offering a glimpse into the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Officials described the achievement as a significant milestone for Odisha’s school education sector, noting that the students’ selection for the prestigious international programme reflects the growing academic excellence and scientific aptitude of the state’s youth.

The School and Mass Education Department congratulated the students on their accomplishment and expressed hope that their success would inspire many more young learners in Odisha to pursue excellence in science, research and innovation.