Fifth ESO Astronomy Winter Camp for Secondary School Students

ESO and its Science Outreach Network are collaborating with the science education event organiser Sterrenlab and the Astronomical Observatory of the Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley (OAVdA) to arrange the fifth ESO Astronomy Camp on the topic of Distances in the Universe. The camp will take place from Tuesday 26 December 2017 to Monday 1 January 2018 in the Aosta Valley, Italy.

The camp will explore the theme of Distances in the Universe through several astronomical sessions, including lectures, hands-on activities, and night-time observations with the telescopes and instruments at the observatory. Social activities, winter sports and excursions will contribute to making the camp a memorable experience for the participants. ESO and OAVdA will be responsible for the scientific programme of the ESO Astronomy Camp, and will provide lecturers and material together with several other partners.

The registration fee of €500 covers full-board accommodation at the hostel in Saint Barthélemy, supervision by professional staff, all astronomical and leisure activities, materials, excursions, internal transport and insurance. Bus transport between the observatory and the airport of Milan Malpensa will be provided. The fee does not include travel costs between the student’s home and Milan Malpensa.

The camp will accommodate a maximum of 56 secondary school students aged between 16 and 18 (born in the years 1999–2001) from the ESO Member States and additional ESO Science Outreach Network countries. A limited number of places will be available to students from other countries.

All students wishing to apply should fill out the form on the Camp web page and submit a video, in English and lasting no longer than three minutes, on the theme of “I would like to invent/discover… because…”, by 23:00 CET 11 October 2017.

The applicant with the best entry from one of ESO’s Member States, will win a bursary offered by ESO that will cover the complete cost of the camp including transport. Several national partners will also provide support to the best applications from a student residing in their respective countries.

The selection of the bursary winners and the successful paying candidates will be communicated by 23 October 2017. Participants will need to confirm that they will attend the Camp by 30 October 2017. The selection criteria and other instructions for participation are given on the Camp web page.

The current national partners for the event are:

• German Astronomical Society: Germany
• Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica: Italy
• NOVA, the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy: Netherlands
• Polish Astronomical Society: Poland
• Spanish Astronomical Society: Spain
• Swedish Astronomical Society: Sweden
• Eyuboglu High School: Turkey

Please consult the Camp web page as this list is being updated regularly.

Courtesy of European Southern Observatory