Space Sparks Young Minds: Second ‘Space Exploration Olympiad’ Held in Bangladesh
Stories of space exploration have always sparked the imagination of children, not merely as tales of adventure and bravery, but as gateways to scientific curiosity and innovation. In an effort to cultivate curiosity, analytical thinking, and creativity among the youth, the second edition of the “Space Exploration Olympiad” was recently organized in Bangladesh by Space Innovation Camp, focusing on space science, robotics, technology, solar systems, galaxies, programming, and cosmology.
On Friday, August 1, the final round of the Olympiad took place at the American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) in Dhaka. Selected from preliminary and secondary online rounds based on age groups, 100 crew members from across the country competed in the final phase. Winners in each of the three categories received Runner-up, Second Runner-up, and Champion awards, with one participant also receiving the prestigious Excellence Award.
Winners Announced
In the 6–9 year category:
Second Runner-up – Mohammad Ayman Adil (Navy Anchorage School & College, Chattogram)
Runner-up – Jadida Jawad Trana (Nawab Faizunnesa Government Girls’ High School, Cumilla)
Champion – K.R. Ahona (English Academy, Shariatpur)
In the 10–12 year category:
Second Runner-up – Raisa Amin (Viqarunnisa Noon School & College, Dhaka)
Runner-up – Warisha Rahman (Green Hill International School, Sylhet)
Champion – Sragobhi Das Soili (Holy Cross Girls' High School)
In the 13–14 year category:
Second Runner-up – Lidika Rahman (Bir Shreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf College)
Runner-up – Jarif Mahmud (Navy Anchorage School & College, Dhaka)
Champion – Aminur Rahman Sajim (N. Alam Merit Care School, Narayanganj)
This year’s Excellence Award was presented to K.R. Ahona from English Academy, Shariatpur.
Leadership Perspectives
Speaking as Chief Guest at the awards ceremony, AIUB Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Saiful Islam stated, “The future world will be led by today’s young scientists. Their intellect, imagination, and innovation are our greatest strength. If children can enjoy learning science and technology, the process becomes more effective and profound. The Space Exploration Olympiad is a transformative initiative that will significantly contribute to science education in our country.”
Munir Hossain, Chairman of Creative Business Group and Special Guest at the event, said, “This kind of initiative is timely and impactful for nurturing children’s knowledge and creativity. Here, they are learning through hands-on experience and exposure to new ideas, which will accelerate their academic growth. We proudly support this science-based effort by Space Innovation Camp and will continue to do so.”
Space Innovation Camp President Ariful Hasan Apu added, “Our children are the architects of a science- and technology-driven Bangladesh. We launched the Space Exploration Olympiad to awaken their imagination, curiosity, and innovative potential. We believe education is most effective when it is joyful and hands-on. Today’s winners are not just victors—they are future trailblazers. We will continue working to spread scientific curiosity and space enthusiasm to every child across the country.”
Nationwide Engagement
Participants aged 6 to 14 competed in three age-based categories. Leading up to the Olympiad, Space Innovation Camp organized Kids’ Space Camps in all eight divisions of the country, 150 school outreach campaigns, and district-level data bootcamps. Additionally, children had the opportunity to interact with space scientists and researchers during 12 dedicated “Space Talk” sessions. For preparation, participants accessed online quiz practice platforms and a sophisticated mock test software, enabling them to self-evaluate their learning.
The event highlighted how space education can be both fun and formative, inspiring the next generation of thinkers, explorers, and innovators.
