International Astronomical Olympiads

INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL OLYMPIADS (IAO)

With the aim of providing a steady development of astronomy and spreading astronomical knowledge, of enhancing the development of international contacts in the field of school education in astronomy and physics, in recognition of the growing significance of astronomy in all fields of science and human culture, and in the general education of young people, an annual astronomy competition has been founded by the Euro–Asian Astronomical Society (EAAS), the competition is called the International Olympiad of the Euro-Asian Astronomical Society (in short, the International Astronomy Olympiad or IAO) and is a competition between individuals. The IAO is one of the ways to popularize natural science among children and young people, singling out the most gifted students.

The EAAS International Olympiad was founded on June 7, 1996, as an annual astronomy competition for high-school students. It is one of the 6 International Science Olympiads (like International Olympiads on Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Informatics, and Biology). The Olympiad is being held every year, sometime in the period from September to December, in one of the astronomical centers of the Olympiad member states. School children of several age groups take part in the Olympiad.

The Armenian team takes part in IAO since 1997, but off and on, which has been connected with financial expenses. The selection for the National team to IAO is being done from the students of the 9 and 10 years of education (according to age limits in IAO). Dr. Armen Oskanian had a big contribution in preparing Armenian pupils. Tragically, he died in 2004, trying to rescue one of his sunk students in Crimea, after the IX IAO, where the Armenian team got its next prizes. Armen Oskanian and Avetik Grigoryan have been included in the Jury Boards of IAOs.

Participation and results of the Armenian team at IAO. Shaded rows are those Olympiads where the Armenian team has taken part.

#	Year	Dates	Location	Teams	Pupils	Armenian team supervisors	Armenian participants	Prize rank
I	1996	Nov 1-8	SAO, North Caucasus, Russia	2			Igor Chilingarian (Moscow, Russia)	I
II	1997	Oct 21-28	SAO, North Caucasus, Russia			Avetik Grigoryan,
III	1998	Oct 20-27	SAO, North Caucasus, Russia	5
IV	1999	Sep 25 – Oct 2	Crimea, Ukraine	7
V	2000	Oct 20-27	SAO, North Caucasus, Russia	8		Avetik Grigoryan,	Tigran Shahverdyan	II
VI	2001	Sep 26 – Oct 3	Crimea, Ukraine	9		Armen Oskanian, Avetik Grigoryan	Zhirayr Avetisyan Vahagn Yeghikyan Mkrtich Soghomonyan Tigran Shahverdyan (Phys.-Math.)	II II III III
VII	2002	Oct 22-29	SAO, North Caucasus, Russia	12		Armen Oskanian,	Mkrtich Soghomonyan Zhirayr Avetisyan	II III
VIII	2003	Oct 3-8	Stockholm, Sweden	14	55	Armen Oskanian, Avetik Grigoryan	Zhirayr Avetisyan (“Quantum”) Mkrtich Soghomonyan (“Quantum”) Artavazd Minasyan (“Quantum”) Davit Aghamalyan (“Quantum”)	I I III
IX	2004	Oct 1-9	Crimea, Ukraine	18		Armen Oskanian, Sergei Nersissian	Tigran Nazaryan Artak Pepoyan	I III
X	2005	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Beijing, China	16
XI	2006	Nov 10-19	Mumbai (Bombay), India	16		Marietta Gyulzadyan	Vahe Taamazyan (Russia)	III
XII	2007	Sep 29 – Oct 7	Crimea, Ukraine	23		Marietta Gyulzadyan, Emilya Karapetian	Hrant Gharibyan	III
XIII	2008	Oct 13-21	Trieste, Italy	19	93	Marietta Gyulzadyan	Hayk Saribekyan	I
XIV	2009	Nov 8-16	Hangzhou, China	18	124	Ashot Akopian, Marietta Gyulzadyan	Hayk Tepanyan Hayk Hakobyan Hovhannes Shmavonyan	I I
XV	2010	Oct 16-24	Sudak, Crimea, Ukraine	18		Marietta Gyulzadyan, Tigran Nazaryan	Aram Mkrtchyan Virab Gevorgyan Vahan Aslanyan Hovsep Harutyunyan Vardan Avetisyan	III III III
XVI	2011	Sep 22-30	Almaty, Kazakhstan	21	140	Marietta Gyulzadyan, Tigran Nazaryan	Levon Stepanyan Virab Gevorgyan Karen Hambartsumyan Vardges Mambreyan Aram Mkrtchyan	I III III III
XVII	2012	Oct 16-24	Gwangju, Korea	23		Marietta Gyulzadyan, Tigran Nazaryan	Gevorg Martirosyan Arsen Vasilyan Vardges Mambreyan Siranush Babakhanova Vahan Aslanyan Levon Stepanyan	I II III III
XVIII	2013	Sep 6-14	Dubingay, Lithuania	18	89	Marietta Gyulzadyan, Emilya Karapetian	Vardges Mambreyan (P-M) Arsen Vasilyan (HPTchH) Hrant Topchyan (P-M) Hayk Soghomonyan (P-M) Siranush Babakhanova (P-M) Ara Mambreyan (P-M) Gevorg Martirosyan (P-M)	III III III III
XIX	2014	Oct 12-21	Bishkek and Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan	17		Marietta Gyulzadyan, Avetik Grigoryan	Edgar Vardanyan (P-M) Hrant Topchyan (P-M) Hrach Babujyan (P-M) Davit Aslanyan (P-M) Eduard Grigoryan (Quantum)	I
XXI	2016	Oct 5-13	Plovdiv, Bulgaria	16		Marietta Gyulzadyan, Avetik Grigoryan	Areg Grigoryan Davit Gevorgyan Hayk Harutyunyan Mushex Babajanyan	III

Thus, the Armenian team has participated to 16 IAO and has won 9 I rank, 5 II rank, and 20 III rank prizes, totaling to 34 prizes. Zhirayr Avetisyan and Mkrtich Soghomonyan (both Dr. A.V. Oskanian’s pupils) have been the most successful participants, each have won one I, one II, and one III rank prizes. Tigran Shahverdyan (A.E. Grigoryan’s pupil) had two; one II and one III rank prizes. Tigran Nazaryan, Hayk Saribekyan, Hayk Tepanyan and Hayk Hakobyan had one I rank prize each. Igor Chilingarian from Russia has won I rank prize as well.