History Made with Dual Celebration: Team Absinthe Wins Silver at 2024 ICPC World Finals

Team Absinthe's silver medal win at the 2024 International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) World Finals marks a historic achievement. Comprising Bui Hong Duc, Rama Aryasuta Pangestu and Nyamdavaa Amar—all medallists from the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in 2020-2021—the team's success highlights their exceptional programming and problem-solving abilities. This victory also underscores the commitment of their coach, Associate Professor Steven Halim, whose 24 years of unwavering dedication (as an ICPC contestant in 2001, as coach since 2008 and as ICPC contest director numerous times) have been instrumental in achieving this milestone.

Additionally, National University of Singapore (NUS) celebrates another significant milestone. Not only did the university secure its first medal at the ICPC World Finals, but it also became home to the President of the IOI for the first time. Associate Professor Tan Sun Teck was recently elected President of the IOI at IOI 2024. These achievements and recognitions reflect NUS Computing’s role as a global leader in computing education and its success in attracting top global talent through initiatives such as the SEA Scholarship and international programming competitions.

This dual celebration positions NUS Computing as a key player on the global stage in nurturing future innovators, driving research excellence, and shaping the future of computing. The university’s involvement in prestigious events like ICPC and IOI continues to reinforce its leadership position and solidify its reputation as a hub for top computing talent.