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First EUSO GB Meeting

Dublin, Ireland, May 9th-12th 2002

In Attendance:

Apologies:

Report

The purpose of the GB meeting was two fold:

  1. to re-draft the Constitution of the EUSO
  2. to evaluate Ireland's capacity for holding the first EUSO, to advise Ireland on the holding the event and to decide the date/schedule of the first EUSO

The meeting, chaired by Michael Cotter, began in Dublin City University at 14.00 on Thursday May 9th and ended on Sunday May 12th.

The Chairman welcomed the members present to the inaugural meeting of the GB of the EUSO. Letters of apology were read. Letters expressing the views of the members not present were tabled and these views were taken into account at various times during the discussions when the relevant issue arose.

The Chairman began the meeting by announcing that all aspects of the proposed EUSO were open for discussion.

The Constitution

There was general agreement and enthusiastic support for the concept of a European Union Science Olympiad. However it was pointed out that the EUSO should not try to replicate existing Science Olympiads/Competitions or clash with them in any way either in terms of timing, age of students or programme content. The EUSO should be different from but complimentary to such science events. It should point in a new direction and add something distinctive, exciting and new to the science education calendar of EU students and teachers.

The re-drafted constitution is also online.

The main proposed changes are:

1. That the EUSO will be a TEAM competition and NOT an individual competition.
Each team will have three members. The members will be 17 years of age or younger on June 30th of the year of the competition. Each member will ideally have a strength or preference in one of the sciences. Each country may send up to three teams. (Maximum number of students will be nine).
That the two-part competition will be spread over two days with an interval of at least one day. The recommended duration of each part will be four hours. Each task must be a PRACTICAL ACTIVITY incorporating elements of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in approximate equal proportions, hence the need for each team to have students with an ability in at least one of the sciences.
This eliminates the theoretical test.
This is the real challenge for the organisers and test designers; to create practical tests for seventeen-year-old science students that incorporates elements of biology, chemistry and physics in equal proportion and will include milestones or stage that can be evaluated.
2. Financial matters.
That the cost of running the EUSO will be borne by the Host Country and that there will be NO registration fee. 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.
3. Medals
That medals will be awarded in the following way: gold medals to approximately 10% of contestants, silver medals to approximately 30% of contestants and bronze medals to all remaining contestants.
It was felt that achieving medals was not the most important aspect of the EUSO. However gold medals should be difficult to win and silver medals relatively difficult.
4. Country Co-ordinator
It was agreed that a designated Mentor, who could also act as head of the delegation, could fulfil the role of the Country Co-ordinator. However countries wishing to send three mentors and a country co-ordinator could do so at no extra cost.
5. Team selection process
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 Concern had been expressed in correspondence in relation to this matter.
There were many other changes made to the text of the original booklet sent to all GB members. In some instances wording has been altered, additions made and sections deleted. Please read the attached Draft Constitution carefully and reply to me as soon as possible with your comments and/or approval.

The First EUSO

Having visited the DCU science faculty, restaurant, new auditorium, sports centre and university facilities generally, the GB members agreed the Dublin City University would be a suitable location for many aspects of the first EUSO.

Following visits to the Natural History Museum, the National Museum, Trinity College and other locations in the city centre, it was agreed that a beneficial cultural/social programme for the visiting delegations could easily be organised.

The members did not have time to visit the Boarding school where it is proposed the students would be accommodated.

Two of the members present, Eckhard and Gérard, have already organised an International Biology Olympiad in their own countries. Their advice, based on their own experience, on how to run the First EUSO was invaluable. Professor Richard OKennedy, Dr. Paul van Kampen and Dr. Paraic James who have many years experience of running the Irish Science Olympiads and Irelands participation in the IBO, IPhO and IChO respectively were involved in these discussions. The members also met Dr. George Porter, the Science Advisor to the Department of Education and Science.

It was decided that the most suitable date for the First EUSO was: Sunday 6th to Sunday 13th April 2003.

Countries are asked to indicate as soon as possible if they intend sending a delegation. This would greatly assist the planning process.

Final Comment from the Chairman

I would like to express my appreciation to Gérard, Eckhard, Edouard, Kostas and Carlos for their help and support in bringing the EUSO proposal to this stage. Their commitment and dedication to the task in hand was obvious throughout the whole weekend. Even social gatherings in the evenings sometimes reverted to working sessions when particular issues, which had arisen during the day, needed further discussion or clarification. My thanks to their families for making them available to us.

Michael A. Cotter
EUSO GB Chairman
4th June 2002

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