Türkiye is sending high school students to the International Nuclear Science Olympiad for the first time, with the team set to compete in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from Aug. 2 to 9. The group completed its final preparations in Ankara before heading out for the third edition of the contest.
The timing matters because this is not just another school trip abroad. Türkiye is entering as a full participant for the first time after taking part as an observer last year, and the team is aiming to bring home the country’s first medals at the competition.
Students from Istanbul Private Bahçeşehir High School for Science and Technology earned the right to represent Türkiye after a nationwide selection process that drew applications from 30 schools. Before departure, the students went through specialized training in atomic structure, the atomic nucleus, radiation, nuclear fission and fusion, environmental radioactivity, radiation safety, radiation risks, and the applications of nuclear and radiation technologies.
The team also completed a two-day practical training program at the Nuclear Energy Research Institute, a final step meant to turn classroom knowledge into competition readiness. That preparation reflects the scale of the challenge ahead: Türkiye is chasing medals in its debut, but the field in Jeddah is unfamiliar, and the public measure of success will come only when the results are posted.
Omer Akan said the team had prepared very well and hoped to achieve great success in the competitions, while thanking the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources for unwavering support. Mert Andaç Karan said the students were excited to bring home medals and make Türkiye proud. The Olympiad was established to promote international cooperation in nuclear science and technology education, and Türkiye’s first full appearance now turns that aim into a test it can measure for itself.
What happens next is simple: the Turkish team travels to Jeddah and competes in INSO-2026. The harder question is whether first-time participation, even after broad selection and specialized training, is enough to turn ambition into medals.
