Working Principles of International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics-Junior (IOAA-Jr.)
#1
International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics – Junior (IOAA – Jr.) is officially recognised as a daughter event of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). The statutes and regulations of IOAA will also be applicable for IOAA-Jr., with exceptions mentioned as below.
#2
The IOAA-Jr. should be organised during July – December, on the dates which are at least 4 weeks away from the IOAA dates.
The duration of the Olympiad (including the arrival and departure days) should not, normally, exceed 8 days.
#3
Each regular team may consist of between 2 to 5 contestants and 1 or 2 team leaders. The regular team will pay a participation fee, as set by the host country, not exceeding 500 Eur per person.
The age of the contestants can at max be fifteen years on 30th June of the year of the competition. As an example, students born on or after 01/07/2010 will be eligible to participate in IOAA-Jr. in 2025.
The contestants should be two or more years away from completing high school at the time of competition. As an example, every contestant in IOAA-Jr. 2025 will be due to complete high school in the year 2027 or later. Each contestant must satisfy both the eligibility conditions simultaneously.
The host country may also accept a second team from each participating country as a guest team. If a country sends only one student and one leader as the first team, then that team is also classified as a guest team. The host country may also accept additional accompanying adults as observers. The fee for members of the guest team and observer cannot exceed 1000 Eur per person.
The fees stated here may be revised by the IOAA board after every 5 years.
#4
The team leaders of each regular team become equal and independent members of the Working Group for IOAA-Jr for the period of the competition. Further, the members of this working group are treated as the representative contact persons for the participating countries for the next IOAA-Jr competition.
Leaders of Guest teams and Observers are not members of the Working Group of IOAA-Jr.
#5
The working group (WG) of IOAA-Jr. will function in a similar way to the International Board of IOAA and will have similar responsibilities, with following changes.
- The WG is authorised to modify the syllabus of IOAA-Jr. from time to time.
- The WG can recommend changes to the working principles of IOAA-Jr. from time to time through simple majority within the WG. However, the changes cannot be implemented without approval of the IOAA IB.
- The WG cannot make any rules which contradict with IOAA statutes (except the working principles mentioned in this document) or cannot vote on any statute changes for IOAA.
#6
The competition consists of 2 parts: the theoretical competition (including short and long questions) and sky observation (which may also include a planetarium component) competition. The problems should involve at least four areas mentioned in the IOAA-Jr. Syllabus.
The theoretical part makes 60% of the total mark, and the sky observation part 40% of the total mark.
#7
The IOAA-Jr. event will be supervised by the IOAA president and/or IOAA general secretary. They are invited to each International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics Junior at cost (including travel expenses) of the organising country. In case both are unable to attend the event, they may, in consultation with the host country, recommend one of the IOAA EC members to represent them in the IOAA-Jr. event.
#8
Participation in the International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics Junior signifies acceptance of the present Statutes of IOAA by the Ministry of Education of the participating country.
#9
The originals of these working principles are written in English.