Day 9
The results of the 22nd International Junior Science Olympiad 2025 were announced in Sirius. The Russian national team emerged as the winner of the intellectual competition. Gold medals were also awarded to representatives from India, Thailand, and Chinese Taipei.
The participants of the Olympiad were welcomed by Mr. Anton Gusev, the Deputy Co-Chair of the IJSO-2025 Organizing Committee, Deputy Head of the Talent and Success Educational Foundation, and Director of the Sirius University of Science and Technology.
He emphasized that the Olympiad is an important milestone on their long professional journey. Among the participants are many future outstanding scientists, designers, engineers, and other highly skilled professionals. It is precisely such talented and motivated young people who will drive the breakthrough technologies capable of changing the world.
IJSO President Dr. Emiel de Kleijn commended the high level of organization of the Olympiad.
"IJSO-2025 is one of the most impeccably organized Olympiads. I am truly delighted for everyone here in Sirius. The local organizing and scientific committees have done a fantastic job. Participating in such events changes the life of every student. They meet talented, like-minded friends, and the bonds formed here can last a lifetime. While winning a medal is a goal for everyone, being present is far more important: it’s an opportunity to connect with future colleagues who, in 20 to 30 years, will be shaping the global scientific community," emphasized Dr. Emiel de Kleijn.
The absolute winner of the 22nd International Junior Science Olympiad 2025 is Arsenii Gasanenko, a ninth-grade student from Moscow.
"I was confident in my abilities and expected to win a gold medal, but I didn't anticipate becoming the absolute winner. My journey into science began with mathematics. Later, I became fascinated with chemistry experiments. I was given special experiment kits, and that motivated me to dive deeper into physics and chemistry. I delved into biology when I learned about the natural science Olympiad. It’s completely different from other sciences, but once I started studying it, I discovered its own unique system and logic—and that captivated me. The Olympiad turned out to be both challenging and incredibly interesting. I met students from other countries, attended lectures, the Young Scientists Congress, and went on excursions—all of which have been invaluable experiences," Arsenii shared.
Mihaly Kiss, the silver medalist from Hungary, enhanced his knowledge across all natural science disciplines and found new like-minded friends.
"I achieved a silver medal at IJSO-2025. It’s a wonderful result. I must say, this year’s problems were incredibly challenging—much more difficult than last year’s. Participating in this Olympiad has been very valuable to me. The new connections, the experience of international exchange, and the knowledge I’ve gained—I'll carry all of this with me. My favorite subject is chemistry, so in the future, I plan to become either a chemical engineer or a research scientist in this field," shares Mihaly Kiss, the silver medalist from Hungary.
"I achieved a silver medal at IJSO-2025. It’s a wonderful result. I must say, this year’s problems were incredibly challenging—much more difficult than last year’s. Participating in this Olympiad has been very valuable to me. The new connections, the experience of international exchange, and the knowledge I’ve gained—I'll carry all of this with me. My favorite subject is chemistry, so in the future, I plan to become either a chemical engineer or a research scientist in this field," shares Mihaly Kiss, the silver medalist from Hungary.
Matias Andino Castellanos from Costa Rica secured a bronze medal at the Olympiad. Not only did he test his knowledge, but he also gained a unique experience in Sirius unlike anything he had encountered before.
"I have to say, I am a very happy person — especially right now, at this moment. These days have been incredibly interesting and packed with activities. What proved challenging for me wasn’t just the questions themselves, but also the need to manage my time wisely — that turned out to be quite difficult. At the same time, the questions were fascinating and tough — it was the first time in my life I had faced problems of this level. I really appreciated how well-organized everything was in Sirius. Besides the Olympiad itself, we had numerous sessions and events: we played football and basketball, attended lectures, a 'Cultural Night,' and went on excursions. The ice-skating rink left a particularly strong impression on me — I had never stood on ice before," shared the bronze medalist.
"I have to say, I am a very happy person — especially right now, at this moment. These days have been incredibly interesting and packed with activities. What proved challenging for me wasn’t just the questions themselves, but also the need to manage my time wisely — that turned out to be quite difficult. At the same time, the questions were fascinating and tough — it was the first time in my life I had faced problems of this level. I really appreciated how well-organized everything was in Sirius. Besides the Olympiad itself, we had numerous sessions and events: we played football and basketball, attended lectures, a 'Cultural Night,' and went on excursions. The ice-skating rink left a particularly strong impression on me — I had never stood on ice before," shared the bronze medalist.
In the evening, everyone looked forward to a grand celebration — the Gala Dinner. It was a time to finally unwind after the intense rounds of intellectual competition. The students chatted, shared their experiences, danced, and simply enjoyed themselves in the company of new friends from all over the world.
"The gala dinner was absolutely amazing! I had a wonderful time. I tried so many dishes I had only ever seen in movies before. It was also fantastic that there was live music—with songs in both Russian and English. And the photo booth near the restaurant was such a great idea! Now I have keepsake photos with all the participants," shared Dora Mileva, a participant from North Macedonia.
