International School for Young Astronomers opens in Gia Lai

The International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA 2026) officially opened on September 28 in Quy Nhon, Gia Lai province. The program includes 32 young researchers and 14 teachers representing 15 different countries and territories.

Organized jointly by Rencontres du Vietnam and the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE), the event is held in collaboration with the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (NASL). The ISYA is a long-standing IAU training program established in 1967 to support the professional development of young astronomers globally.

The 2026 session coincides with Vietnam hosting the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), the largest edition of the competition to date. Participating institutions include universities from Norway, Japan, Spain, Taiwan, India, Australia, the United States, and South Korea.