What is EOES?

The Competition

The European Olympiad of Experimental Science (EOES) is a multidisciplinary, experimental science team competition for EU students who are 17 years old (or younger). Students compete in teams of three, working together to solve challenging tasks in the three fields of biology, chemistry, and physics. Since the tasks are both intellectually challenging and inter-disciplinary, successful cooperation and collaboration between the team members is essential for success.

Each participating country carries out a selection process whereby six students are selected to represent the country at the EOES. Together with three mentors in biology, chemistry and physics, two three-student teams are sent to the final round, which takes place annually during one week in April or May in different countries within the EU.

The two-part competition is spread over two days and the duration of each task is four hours. Each task is a practical activity incorporating elements of biology, chemistry and physics. The tasks are designed to connect these three branches of natural science, provide relevant and inquiry-based challenges, engage all team members, support self-pacing, prompt higher-order and creative thinking, and encourage substantive communication.

This competition differs from many other science olympiads in several ways:

• 1) The participants are 16 years of age or younger on December 31st in the year prior to the competition.
• 2) The EOES is a team competition.
• 3) It is a competition where all the three natural sciences are tested: biology, chemistry and physics.
• 4) The tasks are experimentally based. It is assumed that the participants have the necessary theoretical knowledge, but the tasks are based on experimental work and thus it is essential to have necessary laboratory skills.

During the EOES week, students get the opportunity to work like interdisciplinary teams of real researchers and to measure their scientific skills against those of the other participants. However, the week also includes many social activities, since we believe that it is just as important for the students to meet and socialize with other young people from Europe, creating relationships and an understanding for each other.

Aims and objectives

The objectives of the EOES are:

• – to stimulate the active interest of students in the sciences;
• – to provide invaluable experience for students who may later take part in the International Science Olympiads
• – to promote and reward the pursuit of excellence in scientific endeavour;
• – to foster a positive and high profile image of science and scientists;
• – to challenge and stimulate gifted science students to develop their talents and to promote their careers as scientists;
• – to encourage the 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 offer the opportunity to mentors and teachers to compare the syllabi and science education systems within the EU member states and share best practices which would help improve science education at national levels.

The Organisation

The EOES is a competition with a 20-year-old history. In 2020, it was decided that the EOES organisation be given a sound foundation with a clear non-commercial focus by the founding of an NPO. As of November 2020, the NPO is registered in Luxembourg and currently, twenty-five EU countries are members of the NPO. The EOES NPO is run by a representative Executive Board (EB), whose five members have been voted in by the members of the NPO.

The aim of the EOES NPO is to promote the scientific education for European Union second-level school students by encouraging experimental and laboratory activities in the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics. This is achieved by facilitating the organisation of the annual competition called EOES. Thus, the purpose of the EOES NPO is to nominate, choose and then to support host countries for the competition.

In particular, the EOES NPO ensures:

• The organisation of an annual competition called European Olympiad of Experimental Science (EOES).
• The exchange of ideas and materials about science education with emphasis on experimental sciences within the EU member states, in order to improve science education at national levels.