OPENET Technologies SpA, in its Business Accelerator SPARKme, this year has the pleasure and honor of hosting important events scheduled within the 2019 edition of the Italian Astronomy Olympiad.
In fact, on the day of April 16th, in one of the conference rooms of the Accelerator, the training session will be held (9:00-15:30), for the 60 accompanying teachers, on “The Astronomy Olympiad: An Integrated Teaching Method”.
On the day of April 17thThe public awards ceremony and presentation of the team that will represent Italy at the “2019 International Astronomy Olympics” will take place in the Accelerator’s main conference hall.
The Italian Astronomy Olympiads are promoted by the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) – General Directorate for School Systems and Evaluation of the National Education System and are organized by the Italian Astronomical Society (SAIt) and the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF).
After the regular progress of the Interregional Competition 2019 On February 14th and 15th, the juries of the ten locations and the Organizing Committee completed the evaluation of the papers and selected a total of 80 students (20 for the Junior 1 category, 30 for the Junior 2 category and 30 for the Senior category), admitted to the 2019 National Final.
In fact, 8,390 students registered for the 2019 edition of the Olympics, while a total of 875 students (260 for the Junior 1 category, 307 for the Junior 2 category and 308 for the Senior category) were admitted to the Interregional Competition.
The 2019 National Final will take place in Matera from April 15th to 17th at the “F. Torraca” State Comprehensive Institute.
The Jury of the National Final will be composed of:
- Dr. Fiamma Capitanio – INAF – Institute of Space Astrophysics and Planetology
- Dr. Daria Guidetti, INAF – Institute of Radio Astronomy of Bologna
- Dr. Giulia Iafrate, INAF – Trieste Astronomical Observatory
- Professor Angela Misiano, SAIt – Reggio Calabria Planetarium
- Dr. Emanuella Puddu, INAF – Capodimonte Astronomical Observatory, Naples
- Dr. Agatino Rifatto, INAF – Capodimonte Astronomical Observatory, Naples
- Dr. Gaetano Valentini, INAF – Abruzzo Astronomical Observatory
- Dr. Giuseppe Cutispoto (Secretary), INAF – Catania Astrophysical Observatory
At the conclusion of the National Final, the five students with the highest scores in each category will be announced as the winners of the 2019 Italian Astronomy Olympiad. The fifteen winners thus selected will be awarded the "Margherita Hack" medal for the 2019 edition of the event. Furthermore, in accordance with the regulations of the International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO), the National Team elected to participate in the 2019 IAO will be formed. It will consist of five students, three from the Junior 2 category and two from the Senior category.
