ArmInfo. From August 2 to 9, the XIII International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA, International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics) was held in the Hungarian city of Keszthely, in which Armenia won 2 silver and 3 bronze medals. According to the press service of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, 260 students from 46 countries took part in the Olympiad.
According to the report, pupils of the 12th grade of the Physics and Mathematics Special School named after them received a silver medal. A. Shaginyan David Zohrabyan and 11th grade Karen Baghdasaryan, a bronze medal was received by students of 11th grade of the same school Eva Hunanyan, David Kirakosyan and 12th grade Kristine Grigoryan.
The team of Armenia at the International School Olympiad in the subject of "Astronomy" was accompanied by members of the Republican Commission of the Olympiad in Astronomy, researcher of the Byurakan Observatory Marieta Gyulzadyan (Byurakan Observatory) and the coach of the Olympic group Vardkes Mambreyan (YSU).
It should be noted that at the Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics held in Beijing in the capital of China in 2018, Armenian students won 2 silver and 1 bronze medals, and also received 2 certificates. Eva Hunanyan and David Zohrabyan were awarded silver medals, Kristina Grigoryan won a bronze medal, and David Kirakosyan and Emma Sargsyan were awarded meritorious reviews.
Recall that the IOAA is one of three international astronomical olympiads certified by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Olympics are held every year. In 2006, Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, China and Poland launched a joint initiative to carry it out in order to popularize astronomy among students in secondary schools and to strengthen friendship and cooperation among young astronomers at the international level. In 2007, Thailand hosted the first Olympics. Armenia made its debut at the IOAA in 2013, when the competition took place in the Greek city of Volos.