Mumbai: Over 300 high school students from 64 different countries will participate in the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), which will take place in Mumbai from August 11–21, 2025. India will host an international Olympiad in science education for the first time in over a decade.
The Olympiad will test young students' understanding of astronomy and astrophysics through rounds of theory, observation, and data analysis. With support from the Prime Minister's Office, it is organised by the Department of Atomic Energy's Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a division of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
Alongside the academic challenges, IOAA 2025 will feature cultural and educational exchange programs. Teachers and mentors will also engage in pedagogical discussions, promoting science teaching at the school level globally.
The August 12 opening ceremony will be attended by Prof. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, and Prof. Ajit Kembhavi, former Vice President of the International Astronomical Union. The closing ceremony on August 21, which will be held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, will have dignitaries such as ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan and Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chancellor of the Homi Bhabha National Institute.
