Bhubaneswar, Dec. 12: Two hundred and forty students from 42 countries are in the city to take part in the 10th International Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad, an event widely considered a stepping stone for undergraduate students who want to pursue research in these fields.
The National Institute of Science Education and Research (Niser) is hosting the olympiad in collaboration with the Centre's departments of atomic energy, space, science and technology and the HRD ministry.
Niser director V. Chandrasekhar said hosting this event was a matter of great pride for the state and the institute.
"This is India's first-ever international olympiad in this category. India is a vibrant democracy with a lot of interest and investments in pure sciences, especially astronomy. Apart from several metre-class astronomical telescopes, it hosts the world's largest metrewave radio telescope and has recently launched a state-of-the-art multi-wavelength astronomy telescope. India has a long tradition of encouraging young students to appreciate and enjoy this oldest form of pure sciences," Chandrasekhar said.
"This is a great platform for young astronomy students to come together and discuss subjects of similar interest. It has been a great learning experience for me and the team," said Utane Sawangwit, a participant from Thailand.
Pranay Swain, the dean of student affairs at Niser, said: "It is a matter of great pride and honour for Niser and Odisha to host such an international event. The students of the institute will gain immensely from the 10-day event."
The olympiad will see the aptitude of participants tested in three rounds - theory, observation and data analysis. The cumulative scores at the end of these three rounds will determine the winners. In addition, there will also be a team competition.
The students taking part in the event will visit several places of historical importance, including the Sun Temple at Konark, the authorities said.Governor S.C. Jamir will address the closing ceremony on December 18, Niser registrar Abhay Naik said.
