Two ninth-grade students from the Adventist College of Alagoinhas, located in the interior of Bahia, have achieved silver medals at the Brazilian Astronomy and Astronautics Olympiad (OBA). Their performance has qualified them for a selection process that will determine Brazil's representatives in upcoming international competitions focused on astronomy and astrophysics.
The students, identified as Stefany Lorrane and Maria Eduarda, were among three participants from their institution who entered the OBA this year. The third participant was Pedro Henrique, a seventh-grade student. In total, 15 students from the college took part in scientific olympiads during 2026, with 12 competing in the National Science Olympiad (ONC) alongside the three in the astronomy competition.
Pedro Barreto, the teacher who registered the students for these events, emphasized the role of such competitions in identifying and developing student potential. He noted that scientific olympiads serve as an opportunity to reveal talents within the classroom and encourage students to pursue paths linked to science. According to Barreto, each medal represents dedication and the realization of dreams, showing students they are capable of exceeding their own expectations.
Regarding the National Science Olympiad (ONC), 12 students from the college participated in the 2026 edition. The competition spans two phases and includes students ranging from the eighth grade of elementary school to the third year of high school. Anna Beatriz dos Santos Barbosa, a third-year high school student, highlighted the difference in difficulty between the stages. She described the first phase as straightforward with 20 multiple-choice questions, while the second phase involved open-ended questions divided into items A, B, and C, featuring greater complexity, extensive calculations, and text interpretation.
Samuel Santos Valerio, also a third-year high school student, participated in the ONC for the second consecutive year. Having advanced to the second phase in the previous edition, he expressed happiness at achieving the same result again this year thanks to his accumulated experience. The tests for both competitions have concluded, and the students are now awaiting the official announcement of results and medals.
The OBA is organized by a committee under the institutional responsibility of the Brazilian Astronomical Society (SAB) and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), aiming to stimulate student interest in astronomy and astronautics. The ONC is conducted under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) with participation from various scientific institutions, including the Brazilian Physical Society, the Brazilian Chemical Association, SAB, the Butantan Institute, and the State University of Campinas (Unicamp).
Sources: G1.