Join the Odysseus Space Science Challenge!
Are you interested in space exploration? Are you aged between 7 and 22? Then you are just the person to enjoy taking part in an exciting competition known as Odysseus!
The Odysseus contest combines scientific learning with hands-on experience. Organised in multiple rounds, it targets students from around the world, irrespective of their cultural background or language. The ultimate aim of the project is to foster the development of qualified scientists, engineers and technicians in areas relevant to the priorities of EU’s space policy.
The Odysseus European Youth Space Contest is divided into three age groups: Skywalkers, Pioneers, and Explorers.
Skywalkers must attend an elementary or lower secondary school and be aged between 7 and 13. They are invited to submit a drawing related to one of the four suggested themes, which are:
- Solar System and space science
- Europe in space
- Human beings on Mars
- Astrobiology- the search for life in the Universe
Pupils have until 31 March 2016 to submit their artwork.
Pioneers must attend a secondary school and be aged between 14 and 18. They will work in teams of two or three members, and should be led by one teacher-leader. They must choose the type of project they want to work on, and select between the same topics given to the Skywalkers. Their project can be an experiment, a video, a prototype, a presentation, etc…
The deadline to submit their entries is 15 January 2016.
Explorers must attend university and be aged between 17 and 22. They may compete as individuals or in pairs, and they may choose to be advised by a mentor on scientific and technical aspects of their project entry. They must submit an original space-related project based on one of the following themes:
- Galileo: daily benefits of space applications
- Copernicus: Earth observation
- Rosetta mission: space exploration
- Gaia mission: watching the stars
- General: establishing links between field data and satellite data
The deadline to submit their entries is 15 January 2016.
When evaluating students’projects, judges will award points according to the following criteria: academic excellence, theme relevance, problem-solving abilities, originality, social relevance, presentation, technical merit, practical skills, sustainability, and environment awareness.
To find out more about the contest rules and entry requirements, please visit the Odysseus website.
So what are you waiting for? Get inspired!
Background
The Odysseus II Project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
