Romania has won five medals at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. The team was composed of students from Bucharest, Bacău, and Gheorgheni.
The 19th edition of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics took place from September 25 to October 5, 2026, in Hanoi, Vietnam. A total of 315 contestants from 64 countries participated.
„Three gold medals and two silver medals for Romania at the 2026 International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics! Congratulations!” the Ministry of Education announced on Sunday in a message on Facebook.
Composition of the Romanian team:
– **Alexandru-Ioan Jicu**, „Gheorghe Vrănceanu” National College Bacău, gold medal;
– **Teodor Bichir**, International Theoretical Informatics High School, Bucharest, gold medal;
– **Robert-Cristian Amariei**, „Sfântu Nicolae” Theoretical High School Gheorgheni, Harghita, gold medal;
– **Vlad Toncu**, „Tudor Vianu” National Informatics College, Bucharest, silver medal;
– **Vlad-Tudor Bolohan**, International Theoretical Informatics High School, Bucharest, silver medal.
The Romanian team was coordinated by Dr. Petru Crăciun, Deputy General School Inspector at ISJ Suceava, Dr. Adrian Bodnarescu from „Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi” National College, Rădăuţi, Suceava County, and Elisabeta Ana Naghi, a member of the international committee of the Olympiad.
The selection and training of the team representing Romania were carried out in Suceava by „Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, Suceava County School Inspectorate, CYGNUS Scientific Society, in partnership with the Sports Program High School Suceava.
The scientific coordination was ensured by Dr. Petru Crăciun from the Suceava County School Inspectorate and Dr. Cristian Pîrghie from „Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava.
At the Ministry of Education and Research level, the coordination of the Olympiad was provided by the Department of Olympiads, Competitions, Partnerships, and Extracurricular Education, through Prof. Elisabeta Ana Naghi, MEC inspector.
The Ministry of Education supports the participation of Romania’s national teams in international Olympiads by covering participation fees and travel costs, daily allowance for the stay days, as well as in organizing and conducting the stages preceding international Olympiads – local/county/municipal and national stages of these competitions.
T.D.