EUSO Constitution

(2002 edition)

1. Introduction

The European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO) is a team competition for EU second level school science students who are 17 years of age or younger on June 30th of the year of the competition. Their skills in tackling science problems and dealing with scientific experiments are tested.

2. Objectives of the EUSO

To challenge and stimulate gifted science students to develop their talents and to promote their career as scientists to provide invaluable experience for students who may take part in the International Science Olympiads to offer the opportunity to compare the syllabi and educational trends in science education within the EU member states which could help improve science education at national levels.

3. Organisation & Management of the EUSO

3.1 Aims of the Competition

The European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO) is a team competition for secondary school students who are interested in science. The aims of this competition are:

• to select the top young EU science student teams at the annual EUSO
• to stimulate the active interest of students in the sciences
• to promote and reward the pursuit of excellence in scientific endeavour
• to foster a positive and high profile image of science and scientists
• to encourage an appreciation of the value of science amongst the wider community
• to convey to students, schools and the community the importance of advanced study and progressive learning in science
• to exchange ideas and materials about science education among EU states
• to encourage greater contact and co-operation between secondary school students and teachers from the EU
• to prepare EU science students for the International Science Olympiads

3.2 National Delegation

EU member states are invited to send a delegation of three teams with three science student in each team (nine students in total). They are accompanied by not more than one Mentor for each discipline (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) who is also a member and the Scientific Jury. The Country Co-ordinator who is the member of the Governing Body of the EUSO and Head of the delegation may also be one of the Mentors (maximum number 13).

4.EUSO Bodies

4.1 Governing Body

The Governing Body (GB) of the EUSO is the committee of the Country Co-ordinators that meets annually during the EUSO competition. Each participating country must appoint one Co-ordinator (who may also be one of the Mentors) to represent the country on this committee. The GB elects one of its members as the chairman to chair its meeting, to represent the GB at official functions and to keep in contact with the Co-ordinating centre of the EUSO. A Chairman serves a three-year team and may be re-elected for a further three-year term. A Chairman may serve for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

The GB has the right to exclude students or teams from the competition in the case of a serious breach of the rules.

A country that has not participated in the competition for two consecutive years must send an Observer to the EUSO on the year prior to full participation.

4.2 Co-ordinating Centre

The Co-ordinating Centre (CC) of the EUSO, established at Dublin City University, serves as the headquarters of the EUSO. It fulfils its duties by:

• developing and maintaining the EUSO web site
• storing all relevant EUSO material
• organising and reporting on the annual EUSO Advisory Board, Scientific Jury and GB meeting
• keeping records and registration of members updated
• functioning as the secretariat of the EUSO

4.3 Advisory Board

The Advisory Board (AB) of the EUSO consists of the Director of the CC, representatives of the two previous host countries, the current host country and the two future host countries. It advises the host country on the organisation and running of the EUSO.

4.4 Scientific Jury

The Scientific Jury (SJ) is a committee formed for each EUSO competition. A distinguished scientist appointed by the EUSO Host Country chairs it. Its members consist of the Mentors from each participating country.

4.4.1 Duties of the Scientific Jury

• The SJ discusses and approves the tasks, the solutions and the marking scheme submitted by the Host Country
• The SJ has the right to check the procedures and results of the evaluation performed by the Host Country. This includes verification of the marking processes and inspection of the scores of the teams
• The SJ approves the final results of the evaluation, confirms the ranking and decides on prizes and awards for the teams
• The SJ members are obliged to keep secret all information about the competition tasks, results and evaluation until the official final announcement
• The decision of the SJ is final

5. The Rules & Regulations of the EUSO

5.1 The Rules

The business of the EUSO meetings is conducted in English.

EUSO takes place during April each year in one of the participating countries. The date has to be fixed at least on year in advance.

EUSO is organised by a nominee of the Ministry (ies) for Education of the Host Country.

The organiser of EUSO ensures equal participation of all delegations and invites all countries who have been accepted as members of the competition.

Each country is expected to indicate as soon as possible when it will organise the EUSO.

The GB decides all principal questions regarding EUSO.

Decisions are taken on the basis of a simple majority in the presence of at least 75% of members. Each country has one vote. In case of equal votes, the chairperson takes the final decision.

Training or any other special instruction that is carried out for a selected group of 50 or fewer students, containing the EUSO team members, should not be longer than two weeks in duration.

5.2 Programme

Topics should be chosen that would enable the competitors to exhibit not only their knowledge and skills, but also their ability to think independently and creatively.

The topics for the competition must correspond as far as possible with the science syllabi for seventeen-year-old students in the secondary education system of the EU member states.

In the tasks no experiments should be carried out which cause deterioration of the living conditions of vertebrates. No handling of species protected by EU law is permitted.

5.3 Contestants

The contestants must be 17 years of age or younger on June 30th and have been in full time education in EU schools for at least two years prior to the competition. Younger age categories may be included with the approval of the GB.

It is not necessary for the students to have been winners at a national science competition created specifically for the EUSO. Existing science competitions or exhibitions may be used for the selection process.

Students attending Schola Europaea may represent their home country (the country of which they are a citizen) but not the country in which the school is located.

Students may participate only twice in an EUSO.

5.4 Country Co-ordinators

Each participating Country must appoints an EUSO Country Co-ordinator and inform the CC of the appointment. The Country Co-ordinator, who may also be a Mentor, is the head of the delegation.

5.4.1 Duties of the Country Co-ordinators

The main duties of the Country Co-ordinator is to ensure that:

• a Mentor for each science discipline is appointed
• participation in the EUSO is arranged
• the rules of the EUSO are upheld

5.5 Mentors

Each country appoints a Mentor for each discipline (Biology, Chemistry and Physics). Mentors must be able to translate the text of the competition tasks from English to the students' native language, evaluate the tasks and correct their solutions.

5.5.1 Duties of the Mentor

The main duties of the Mentor is:

• to take part in the SJ and moderation meetings
• to forward model / example tasks to the Host Country by a set date

6. Hosting the EUSO

6.1 The Host Country

The nominee of the Ministry of Education confirms to the CC at least two years in advance that it accepts the responsibility for the organisation of the EUSO.

The Host Country sends an official invitation to all Country Co-ordinators of the participating countries at least six months prior to the EUSO.

The invited countries must confirm their participation four months prior to the EUSO.

In the event of more than one country offering to host the EUSO in any particular year the GB will evaluate the proposals and make the final decision.

6.2 Duties of the Host Country

The Host Country must ensure that:

• each Country Co-ordinators receives an official invitation to the EUSO
• suitable accommodation and subsistence is provided for each delegation
• the health and safety of the delegations is provided for
• laboratories, examination halls, materials and other requirements necessary for the competition in accordance with the rules are provided
• team guides are provided
• a cultural and social programme is in place

7. The Competition

7.1 Structure

The two-part competition is spread over two days with an interval of at least one day.

The recommended duration of each part is four hours.

7.2 The Tasks

The Host Country is responsible for the preparation of the tasks for the competition. Science experts who also indicate solutions and criteria of evaluation prepare the competition tasks.

Each task must be a practical activity incorporating elements of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in approximate equal proportions.

The tasks become valid when approved by the SJ.

The student teams receive all tasks in English and in their native language. Translation from English to the native language is the responsibility of their Mentors.

The tasks should be constructed so that no extra verbal instruction or explanation about the testing procedure is necessary.

7.3 Evaluation

Answers should not be language dependent. Responses should be alphabetic, numerical, graphical, illustrative or a box tick.

Each Task must be designed so that The Team can achieve a number of milestones or stage results. The task evaluator will judge and mark these achievements according to agreed procedures.

7.4 Prizes and Awards

Each contestant will receive a Certificate of Participation at the EUSO.

The chairman of the EUSO organising committee should announce the official results.

Gold medals: approximately 10% of contestants

Silver medals: approximately 30% of contestants

Bronze medals: all remaining contestants

Additional prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the GB or the Host Country.

The results will be proclaimed on an individual team basis and not as a national team result.

The original scripts will remain in the possession of the Host Country for a period of one year during which time they can be viewed by the GB. They are then destroyed.

7.3 Financial Matters

Each participating country must pay the travel expenses of their delegation to the nearest Port, Airport or Bus/Rail Station to the competition site in the Host Country.

Observers and Visitors must pay an amount to be determined by the Host Country.

The cost of running the EUSO is borne by the Host Country.

7.4 Conclusion

The countries taking part in the competition are obliged to observe the EUSO rules.

Countries infringing the rules without adequate explanation may be issued a warning and if the infringement continues will be suspended from the competition for at least one year.

Changes to the constitution can be made only at a GB meeting, in the presence of at least 75% of members and on the basis of a simple majority,. They become valid only after the completion of the current EUSO.

The GB will decide upon any matter that is not included in these rules.