Invitation from young astronomy students from all countries of the world was invited to come and participate in the International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics. It is an opportunity for pre-university students from various countries to meet and make friends with students with similar interest from all part of the world. At the last IOAA, participants from 41 countries came and spent 10 days together competing and interacting with each other. We hope to have more countries in India this year, when we host IOAA from 9 to 19 December 2016.
India is one of the oldest countries in the world with its prehistory going back to almost 2 million years. It housed one of the earliest large scale civilisation, the Harappan civilisation from 7000 to 2000 BC and has not looked back. It is home to some of the finest architecture in the world from Taj Mahal to the magnificent Sun Temple at Konark, which the participants to the Olympiad will visit.
India is also a vibrant democracy with a lot of interest and investments in pure sciences in general and astronomy in particular. Apart from several meter class astronomical telescopes, it hosts the world’s largest meter wave telescope and has recently launched a state of the art multi-wavelength astronomy telescope.
We are hosting the 10th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics as a part of our continuing tradition of encouraging young students to appreciate and enjoy the excitement of this oldest of pure sciences. The programme will also offer you an opportunity to meet Indian students beyond the participants through an active outreach programme associated with the event.
10th IOAA will be hosted in one of the most picturesque and ancient city of Bhubaneswar, which boasts of a rich tradition of religious architecture, art form and cuisine. The city of Bhubaneswar, is also the capital of the state of Odisha. The host institute will be National Institute for Science Education and Research(NISER).
For those of you who are new to the event, IOAA will comprise of three rounds i.e. theoretical test, observation test and data analysis test, whose total will count towards medals of participating students. In addition, there will also be a team competition to determine the best team. Participants may note that as per the tentative schedule, opening ceremony of 10th IOAA will be held on the evening of 10th December and closing ceremony will be held on the evening of 18th December.
ABOUT IOAA
The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) is an astronomy competition for high school students. The purpose of IOAA is to promote interest in astronomy and astrophysics among students, as well as to provide them with the opportunity to interact with other students having similar interests from all over the world. Events are organized annually in different host countries. The competition involves problems in the theoretical, analytical and observational aspects of astronomy and astrophysics. The first IOAA was held from 30th November to 9th December, 2007 in Chiang-Mai, Thailand, to commemorate the 80th birth anniversary of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the 84th birth anniversary of the Princess Galyani Vadhana. It was attended by twenty one countries. The subsequent Olympiads were held in Indonesia (2008), Iran (2009), China (2010), Poland (2011), Brazil (2012), Greece (2013), Romania (2014) and Indonesia (2015). The 10th IOAA is being held in Bhubaneswar, India, from 9th to 19th December, 2016. Forty two countries are participating in this event.
The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) is an astronomy competition for high school students. The purpose of IOAA is to promote interest in astronomy and astrophysics among students, as well as to provide them with the opportunity to interact with other students having similar interests from all over the world. Events are organized annually in different host countries. The competition involves problems in the theoretical, analytical and observational aspects of astronomy and astrophysics. The first IOAA was held from 30th November to 9th December, 2007 in Chiang-Mai, Thailand, to commemorate the 80th birth anniversary of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the 84th birth anniversary of the Princess Galyani Vadhana. It was attended by twenty one countries. The subsequent Olympiads were held in Indonesia (2008), Iran (2009), China (2010), Poland (2011), Brazil (2012), Greece (2013), Romania (2014) and Indonesia (2015). The 10th IOAA is being held in Bhubaneswar, India, from 9th to 19th December, 2016. Forty two countries are participating in this event.