Day 2

For the first time, Sirius became the venue for the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO-2025). The grand opening ceremony took place today. The young researchers were welcomed by the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation, Sergey Kravtsov. He noted that Russia is doing a great deal to nurture talent and places immense emphasis on the quality of education, including in science subjects.

Elena Shmeleva, Head of the Sirius Educational Center and Chairman of the Council of the Sirius Federal Territory, addressed the participants of the Olympiad. A recording of the broadcast is available via the link.

"This Olympiad has brought together young people who strive to make world-changing discoveries. Here in Sirius, we have created an environment for finding answers to global challenges. This year, we’ve taken a fundamentally different approach to the tasks. Traditionally, problems were created separately for physics, chemistry, and biology, but this time we’ve focused on interdisciplinary knowledge at the intersection of these subjects. We also involved our industrial partners in developing the tasks to make them practical, not just theoretical. The participants have access to all our laboratories and high-tech equipment to solve these problems. This year, the Olympiad is running in parallel with the Congress of Young Scientists. This is no coincidence, as the students from around the world will be integrated into the Congress’s program, where they can meet leading Russian scientists and learn about the achievements of Russian science and technology." - said Elena Shmeleva.

The President of the IJSO, Emiel de Kleijn expressed his confidence that the 22nd International Junior Science Olympiad will be conducted with transparency and a fair judging system, since Russia has extensive experience in both participating in and organizing such intellectual competitions.

"Science plays a key role in our fast-changing world. A primary goal of the IJSO is to spark an interest in science among talented youth. But scientific and technological progress demands more than just knowledge; it requires successful collaboration and an exchange of ideas within the global scientific community. That’s why this Junior Science Olympiad promotes teamwork among school students from different countries. Let IJSO-2025 and the spirit of science inspire all participants to work towards global peace and understanding, motivating them to solve problems that improve life on our planet." — Emiel de Kleijn stated.

Methodological support for the event, including assembling the jury and designing the challenges, is being provided by the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT). A team of authors from the International Jury and the IJSO Scientific Committee is responsible for this work. All the Olympiad tasks are creative and unconventional, requiring participants not only to have deep knowledge but also a creative approach and broad horizons.

"MIPT has vast experience not just in finding and preparing students for olympiads, but also in shaping the most talented school students into the future elite of our country in science, engineering, and high-tech entrepreneurship once they become our students." - noted MIPT chancellor Dmitry Livanov.

In a long-standing tradition, the participants of the 22nd International Junior Science Olympiad took an oath to uphold the principles of fair competition. The jury members also swore an oath, promising to be objective and impartial in their evaluation of the participants' work.

Russia is represented at the International Junior Science Olympiad by nine school students. They began intensive training in the summer. Now, their mission is to prove that science transcends the boundaries between disciplines.

One of them, Anna Mikhailova, an 11th grader from Moscow, dreams of becoming a biophysicist. She is also fascinated by human genomics, as new research in this field leads to better methods for diagnosing and treating diseases.

"My journey into science started with physics. I first encountered the subject in 7th grade and immediately knew I wanted to delve deeper. Later, I also developed a serious interest in biology. I find it incredibly interesting to learn how our bodies are built, how they function, and how to stay healthy. For the practical tour, we’ll be working in teams, and I’ve been assigned as the lead for the biology section in my subgroup. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but very exciting! I’m certain that participating in this Olympiad is a unique opportunity to gain a wealth of knowledge that will form a solid foundation for my future." — Anna Mikhailova shared.

Tomorrow, the participants will tackle the challenges of the experimental tour.