ASTRONOMY OLYMPIAD PROGRAMME

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Astronomy Olympiad Programme, a joint endeavour by multiple astronomy organisations and universities across the country. The first of its kind for South Africa, this olympiad will be centered on astronomy and astrophysics. Unlike the typical olympiad structure, this is not simply an exam. It is an initiative designed to provide an in-depth, multi-faceted experience for learners, through a sustainable programme that is dedicated to the growth of the South African youth in STEM. Composed of training, testing, a science camp, and a science fair, the olympiad aims to nurture the potential of the South African learners through astronomy – a gateway science with numerous possibilities.

Programme Structure:

  1. Training: Learners will be trained on content contained in a curriculum set specifically for the Olympiad, in order to prepare them for the testing portion and guide their learning experience. This will occur in the form of educational content curated and compiled specially for the programme by professionals and students working in astronomy. These materials will be uploaded to a free online platform created for the olympiad, so that learners may train at their own pace and convenience.
  2. Testing: Testing will take place over 2 rounds. Round 1 will be a multiple-choice test, held exclusively on the same online platform used for training, so that learners may take the test from any location, as long as they have internet access. This first round will be held in August. Round 2 will be a written test which will occur in person, during a science camp hosted as part of the programme.
  3. Science Camp: The top 15 learners (5 per grade) from Round 1 will be selected to join an astronomy science camp in Cape Town, where they will not only compete in the final examination, but will also gain more training, go on science-based visits, and meet professional scientists. This camp will be during the September-October school holidays.
  4. Science Fair: Learners who are chosen to progress to Round 2 will be participating in a science fair. They will individually create innovative projects around the theme of astronomy, to be presented at the science camp.

Benefits of Participation

Competition

To promote healthy competition and vested participation, the programme will reward the top performing learners. There will be 2 competitions running concurrently: the olympiad examination and the science fair. For both the olympiad and science fair, the top participants will be awarded for their performance.

Development

Besides the competition and prize aspects, this programme offers great opportunities, in many forms. It is a chance to foster the love of astronomy and STEM at large amongst learners, and even garner the interest of those who didn’t hold interest in it previously. With the framework to promote growth via the development of skills such as critical thinking, creativity and scientific evaluation. Beyond this, it is an invaluable experience, allowing learners to interact with science in a new and exciting way, through engaging visits, hands-on learning and interactions with astronomy students and professionals.

How to Join

  • Criteria: Learners in Grade 8, 9, or 10
  • Fee: Free to participate
  • Skill requirements: None – all skill levels are encouraged to join!
  • Registration: Fill in this application form by 31 July 2026: https://forms.gle/4eWMvLYqgWSwVMtD6

So, if you are a learner interested in participating, or a teacher with interested learners, please sign up for this great opportunity!

If there are any learners or schools that may face challenges in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to work with you to identify possible solutions and ensure that learners are able to participate.

For further information or queries please contact us at:

E-mail: olympiads@saao.ac.za

Member Organisations:

  • South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)
  • University of South Africa (UNISA), Centre for Astrophysics and Space Sciences
  • South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO)
  • Rhodes University, Centre for Radio Astronomy Techniques & Technologies (RATT)
  • BRICS Astronomy
  • African Astronomical Society (AfAS)
  • Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)
  • University of Cape Town (UCT) Astronomy Department
  • Wits University

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