Participation in the 14th International Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad – Distinction for the student Ara Mahtesian
Cyprus participated in the 14th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA-International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics), which was held in Bogota, Colombia. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the participation of all countries was done online with strict surveillance rules.
Student Ara Mahtesian (English School – Nicosia) managed to get an Honorable Mention from the organizers for his performance. The other students who made up the Cyprus delegation were: Papagrigoriou George (Peter and Paul Missionary Lyceum – Limassol), Anastasia Konstantinou (Latsia Lyceum – Nicosia), Yiallourides Kyriakos (Aradippou Lyceum – Larnaca) and Tzikas Dimitris (M. Koutsofta and A. Panagidis Paleometochou Regional Lyceum – Nicosia). The mission was accompanied by George Keliris and Vassilis Vassiliou as guides, Angelos Papageorgiou and Rodoula Kalaitzis as supervisors and George Gavriel as technical advisor. Many thanks to Hara Papathanasiou for her valuable help in the education of the students.
The topics in which the students competed in the World Olympiad were Theoretical Astrophysics (50% of the total score), Data Analysis (25%) and Astronomical Observations (25%). 50 countries from Europe, Asia and the Americas participated in the Olympiad, with about 300 students in total.
The group of students was selected after excelling in the Pancyprian Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad, with students from every province of Cyprus participating. The next International Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad will be held in Ukraine in August 2022. Those students who want to compete for a place in the Cyprus delegation can take part in the Pancyprian Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad which will be held on 17 April 2022.
