The International Space Olympics (ISO) is an annual two-week competition for teenagers aged from 14 to 18, held in Korolyov,

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

. The competition includes examinations in

Mathematics Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...

Physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

Computer Science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...

, and

English Literature English literature is literature written in the English language from United Kingdom, its crown dependencies, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, and the countries of the former British Empire. ''The Encyclopaedia Britannica'' defines E ...

, in addition to presentation of a space related research project. On days when participants are not competing, they are given tours of some of Russia's top space facilities and areas of cultural significance, and even have a chance to videochat with astronauts and cosmonauts on the

ISS The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest modular space station currently in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (J ...

. Participants come from a wide range of countries, with each country represented as a team. In previous years, teams have attended from

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

the United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

,{{cite web, url = http://www.guidesaus.org.au/page.php?pageid=164, url-status = dead, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070829181538/http://www.guidesaus.org.au/page.php?pageid=164, archive-date = 2007-08-29, title = 2006 Space Olympics

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and

. Overall, in 2012 there were 130 participating students, in 2013 and 2014 - over 200. Over the years, the International Space Olympics has been attended by over 1,850 Russian students, as well as more than 800 students from other countries. The Olympics are held on the initiative of S. P. Korolyov Energia Space and Rocket Corporation and has an international status. The Opening Ceremony is usually started by the heads of Korolyov City, the Moscow region, municipal heads of education, pilots, cosmonauts and representatives from RSC Energia and MCC (mission control center in Korolyov). Sometimes, in the media, the Space Olympics is referred to as an "international space olympics camp" for students or "an intellectual marathon". When in Russia, the competitors usually stay at a hostel, and at the end of the week they are taken to the country to sum up the whole event, to hold the award ceremony, to celebrate, and to have a "good-bye" party. In 2014 China and Venezuela voiced their desire to participate in Space Olympic Games for the first time. Moreover, it is this year that freshmen and sophomores were considered for participation. In the 2012 competition, Alex Gagliano won 1st place in

Astrophysics Astrophysics is a science that employs the methods and principles of physics and chemistry in the study of astronomical objects and phenomena. As one of the founders of the discipline said, Astrophysics "seeks to ascertain the nature of the h ...

presentations and Austin Chung won 1st place in Space History and Policy. In the 2013 competition, Josh Ting won 1st place in Astrophysics and Hema Narlapati won 1st place in Space Policy.

References

Links

High Tech Seminars in Korolev

Science competitions