Day 1

Russia is hosting the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO-2025) for the first time. This major competition in natural sciences is taking place at the Sirius federal territory. The Olympiad has brought together schoolchildren from 24 countries: Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, India, Hungary, Iraq, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Colombia, Costa Rica and others.

Today the participants have received the Olympiad merchandise at the Sirius Educational Center campus. The gift includes everything needed: from a lab coat and gloves to a thermos and a portable phone charger. The students have also had the opportunity to meet one another and their curators who will accompany them during the intellectual competition.

Ratmir Kutyrev, a pupil from Kazakhstan, has been interested in physics since childhood. He considers it "the queen" of sciences because it can explain how the world around us is organised and why everything happens exactly as it does.

"Physical laws are the key to understanding our universe. People do not even realise how helpful this knowledge is in everyday life. For me studying natural sciences means being in a flow of new knowledge and staying surrounded by inspiring people everyday. In the future I plan to become a scientist. I am confident that the experience and knowledge I gain at IJSO will help me to achieve my goal," shares a participant from Kazakhstan.

Ratmir keeps track of current scientific events and is considering the possibility of working in the field of quantum systems.

For Aadish Jain, a representative from India, participating in the International Junior Science Olympiad at Sirius is an opportunity to advance along the scientific ladder. The pupil dreams of dedicating his life to research in artificial intelligence and contributing to modern technologies.

"IJSO is a platform not only for intellectual competition but also for exchanging ideas and scientific concepts with like-minded science enthusiasts. Sirius offers an ideal atmosphere for this, i. e. friendly people who are always ready to help and comfortable living conditions. I look forward to friendly rivalry. I am confident that the Olympiad rounds will give me the chance to test my fundamental knowledge of natural sciences and strengthen it," notes Aadish Jain.

IJSO-2025 consists of three rounds. The theoretical and test rounds will be held individually. For the first time in the history of the Olympiad they will be conducted with the aid of the electronic testing system of Sirius, which is also used in the most extensive school stage of the All-Russian Schoolchildren Olympiad. The practical round is traditionally team-based: students will be provided with complex laboratory equipment to solve research tasks. The grand opening of this international intellectual competition will take place on November 24. The online broadcast is available here.