International Junior Science Olympiad
The International Junior Science Olympiad ( IJSO ) is a competition in biology, chemistry and physics for students in lower secondary school, under the age of 16 years. In contrast to most other international science competitions, the IJSO applies rounder, the interdisciplinary Interested in biology, chemistry and physics. The Olympiad was first held in December 2004 in Jakarta, Indonesia, instead. So it is still relatively young. It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Participant
Each participating country sends a team of maximum 6 students under 16 years and 3 supervisors. The host country must provide 2 teams.
Selection
The participants of the German team were up to and including 2007, the Leibniz Institute for Science Education and Mathematics in a seminar at the University of Applied Sciences in Merseburg, Saxony -Anhalt selected. At this seminar, 15 to 20 students per year were invited who can demonstrate qualifications by mid-level competitions in biology, chemistry, physics or mathematics in their states.
In 2008, the first time a four-step selection procedure was introduced for the 5th IJSO in Korea. In the first round at home to carry out simple experiments and to answer detailed questions about an interdisciplinary subject area of chemistry, biology and physics. The objects are released from February 1 of each year on the Internet. Talented students who have distinguished themselves particularly in scientific Intermediate competitions or junior academies, can skip the first round and be invited by the IJSO right to participate in the second round. In this 90-minute written examination in May / June at the schools, which consists of multiple- choice questions as well as some complex tasks on the biology, chemistry and physics. The third round will take place with 45 to 50 students in October at a university or other research institution. At the end of the week-long seminar selection, the six-member national team will be nominated. In November, this team is prepared in a training seminar at the IPN to the final round.
Expiration
The Olympics is within nine days in the respective host country, notably: the beginning of December of each year. During this time, a multiple-choice exam, a theoretical exam and an experimental is written. Since the third IJSO in São Paulo, the experiment is carried out as group work in groups of three.