Senior Feodor Yevtushenko of University High School was named the overall winner and finished first at the 2025 International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, held on Aug. 11. Due to the international nature of the competition, the IOAA is hosted in different countries every year. This year, it took place in Mumbai and was presented by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education.

The competition encompasses various areas of astronomy and astrophysics, covering topics ranging from coordinates and timekeeping to the solar system.

“[It] is essentially just pure physics, not just that, but many of the problems are extremely similar to topics covered in Carrol and Ostile,” Yevtushenko said.

The competition often requires study from advanced texts, and many students referenced Carroll and Ostlie’s “An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics” while preparing. In a blog he kept during the event, Yevtushenko described the toll of preparing for the IOAA.

“Lately . . . I’ve been losing sleep,” Yevtushenko wrote. “I’m not voluntarily putting this down – I’m getting through this book in no time, no matter what it takes.”

The IOAA is not only about mastering concepts but also about applying them under pressure. Competitors must be ready for rigorous written problems as well as hands-on observation challenges. Yevtushenko said he entered the contest with modest expectations due to his limited observing experience.

“Silver seems the most realistic – out of virtually the entire team, I have the least experience with star charts and telescopes, something pure theory knowledge can’t make up for,” Yevtushenko said.

Participants also spent time on team activities and shared practice sessions, providing them with opportunities to connect beyond individual tests.

“I often think of all the friendships I’ve forged at IOAA,” Yevtushenko said. “My teammates, whom I’ve grown to know and love.”

After completing the observation and data-analysis rounds, Yevtushenko wrote that he felt confident.

“To win the event, you can be far from perfect – and I know it – but I successfully held my own on the Observation rounds while getting through all of the Theory and Data Analysis in the time limits. Gold is now the most probable option, and I know it,” Yevtushenko said.

The IOAA has strict time limits, and competitors must push through every challenge to secure a place. Yevtushenko’s top finish marked the culmination of sustained preparation and proved successful in one of the world’s most challenging student science competitions.