The 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) will be inaugurated in Mumbai on Tuesday with more than 300 high school students from 64 countries participating.
The Olympiad, being hosted by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), will be held at the Jio World Convention Centre. The opening ceremony will be attended by Principal Scientific Advisor to the governemtn Ajay Sood and Ajit Kembhavi, former vice-president of the International Astronomical Union.
According to the HBCSE, the 18th IOAA will see record participation of 300 student contestants and about 140 leaders (mentors/teachers), covering every inhabited continent, including several first-time countries. So far, each Olympiad has hosted 40 to 50 teams, comprising 200-plus contestants, along with their leaders and academic mentors.
IOAA was conceived in 2006 to meet the growing global interest in astronomy among high school students, with the first IOAA held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2007.
“The IOAA curriculum is designed to challenge students through theoretical, observational, and data analysis challenges,” said HBCSE.
Published – August 12, 2025 03:03 am IST
