The international astronomy olympiad OCSC (Orientation Cum Selection Camp) is being held at IISER Mohali. The aim of the camp is to provide training to bright students selected through national level exams and also test their understanding of concepts. and techniques in astronomy and astrophysics.
At the end of the camp, a team of five students is to be selected to represent India in the International Olympiad for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2025. A total of 54 students were selected for Astronomy OCSC from close to 500 students who took a national level test (Indian National Astronomy Olympiad) and stood on top in their respective groups (Group A: students in class 12, Group B: Students in class 10 or 11). Of these, 37 students from different parts of India are participating in the OCSC.
A team of five students will be selected to represent the country in IOAA-2025, which is to be held in Mumbai, India in August 2025. OCSC consists of lectures, tutorials, telescope setup and handling sessions and sky observation sessions. Some pictures of the students taken during the OCSC are enclosed.
Normally the Astronomy OCSC is organized by HBCSE-TIFR Mumbai (Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, a centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai). However, this year as HBCSE is hosting the IOAA, the task of selecting and training was given to IISER Mohali.
A team of astronomers from Central University Haryana Mahendargarh, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology Patiala, IIT Kanpur, Ashoka University Sonepat, Central University Himachal Shahpur and IISER Mohali worked together to do the groundwork and conduct the OCSC. Sessions in the training program were anchored by resource persons from these institutes as well as scientists from Raman Research Institute Bangalore, Indian Institute of Astrophysics Bangalore, Some members from this group will accompany the students as team leaders and scientific observers to the IOAA.
The selection of the final team will be announced during the valedictory function to be held at IISER Mohali starting 9:30am on June 11, 2025. In the program there will be a special lecture by Professor Dipankar Bhattacharya from Ashoka University. This will be followed by distribution of certificates and medals from the IAPT (Indian Association of Physics Teachers), announcement of best performers in the OCSC and also the final team that will represent India in IOAA-2025.
The program will take place in LH6, Lecture Hall Complex, IISER Mohali.