Saudi Arabia Prepares Students for International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics

Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: A “Summer Forum” is currently underway in Riyadh to prepare 11 male and female high school students for the 17th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The IOAA Olympiad is scheduled to take place from August 17 to 26 in Vassouras, Brazil. This marks Saudi Arabia’s debut at the annual event, which was first held in 2007 in Thailand.

According to the report, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, also known as Mawhiba, launched the forum on July 7 in collaboration with the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission. The forum will run until August 1.

“The forum aims to equip students with the necessary skills to participate in the Olympiad and help build a generation proficient in space science and technology,” the report stated. Additionally, it seeks to “inspire future generations to pursue careers in applied scientific and engineering fields.”

Mawhiba and the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission have been actively involved in various training programs to develop engineers and scientists for the Kingdom’s emerging space industry.

Brazil, hosting the IOAA for the second time, previously held the sixth Olympiad in 2012 in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Vassouras. This year’s event continues the tradition of fostering international cooperation and excellence in astronomy and astrophysics among young talents worldwide.

This initiative underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to nurturing scientific talent and advancing its space industry, reflecting the Kingdom’s broader goals of innovation and technological development.