KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 13
While many Nepalis were celebrating the Dashain festival, a group of Nepali youths was actively conducting the International Astronomical Olympiad in Nepal.
This first-ever event in Asia was jointly organized by the Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, and it featured 21 groups of young scientists and researchers from 19 countries.
The Olympiad, the third of its kind, was previously held twice in Europe. According to NASO Chairperson Suresh Bhattarai, the Ministry of Social Development of Bagmati Province supported the event. However, Bhattarai expressed disappointment that despite the federal ministry being listed as a co-convener, no officials attended the event or provided assistance.
The Olympiad commenced on October 3, coinciding with the start of the Dashain holidays, during which many schools and educational institutions were closed. Nevertheless, some students focused on ensuring the success of this international astronomy and astrophysics competition, which concluded on October 10.
School students from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Sri Lanka, and several other nations participated.
The competition involved theoretical and practical exams in astronomy and astrophysics, with outstanding participants receiving medals and certificates. China, the Czech Republic, and India earned two gold medals each, while Bulgaria and Thailand secured one each.
A total of 70 medals were awarded, including eight gold, 11 silver, 13 bronze, and 28 honorary medals across categories such as "Best in Observation" and "Best in Theory." The participants were grouped into 16 teams for the competition, and this year marked Italy's first participation in the event.
Aniket Sule, President of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, noted that Nepal, known for its rich cultural diversity and home to the world's highest peak, could inspire students to pursue ambitious goals in life.