This EUSO Constitution - 2004 Edition, which supersedes all previous editions, was agreed unanimously by the following EUSO Governing Body Members present at the GB meeting held specifically for the purpose of redrafting the EUSO Constitution during EUSO 2004 in Groningen, The Netherlands on Thursday 6th May 2004. All eligible 2003 GB members were present. All future European Union Science Olympiads will be held under this revised Constitution unless altered at a GB meeting called specifically for that purpose.

Rule # 7.6.3 Changes to the constitution can be made only at a GB meeting chaired by the President, in the presence of at least 75% of members and on the basis of a simple majority. The revised constitution becomes valid only after the completion of the current EUSO. Proposed changes must be sent to the President three months before the GB meeting. An agenda will then be circulated to the members.

EUSO Governing Body meeting, Thursday 6th May 2004, Groningen, the Netherlands

Chairperson
Michael A. Cotter (EUSO2003 Director)

GB Members
Victor Rasquin (Belgium)
Eckhard Lucius (Germany)
Paul van Kampen (Ireland)
Emiel de Kleijn (The Netherlands)
Fernando Nogales Perez (Spain)
Inger Molin (Sweden)
Linda Harwood (United Kingdom)
Hans Jordens (EUSO2004 Director))

Observers(non-voting)

Michael Nicolaou (Cyprus)
Olga Dolezalova (Czech Republic)
Viire Sepp (Estonia)
Kostas Kampouris (Greece)
Leonids Buligins (Latvia)
Joe Buttigieg (Malta)
Junona Nowak-Roguska (Poland)
Ivo Cap (Slovakia)

1. Introduction
2. Objectives of the EUSO
3. Organisation & Management of the EUSO
4. EUSO Bodies
5. The Rules & Regulations of the EUSO
6. Hosting the EUSO
7. The Competition
8. Contact Address

1. Introduction

1.1 The European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO) is a team competition for EU second level school science students who are 16 years of age or younger on the December 31st prior to the competition.
1.2 Their skills in tackling science problems and dealing with scientific experiments are tested.

2. Objectives of the EUSO

• to challenge and stimulate gifted science students to develop their talents and to promote their career as scientists
• to provide invaluable experience for students who may take part in the International Science Olympiads
• to offer the opportunity to compare the syllabi and educational trends in science education within the EU member states which could help improve science education at national levels

3. Organisation & Management of the EUSO

3.1 Aims of the Competition

The European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO) is a team competition for sixteen year old secondary school students who are interested in science. The aims of this competition are:
• to select the top young EU science student teams at the annual EUSO.
• to stimulate the active interest of students in the sciences.
• to promote and reward the pursuit of excellence in scientific endeavour.
• to foster a positive and high profile image of science and scientists.
• to encourage an 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 prepare EU science students for the International Science Olympiads.

3.2 National Delegation

3.2.1 Each EU member state which has either participated fully in or sent an observer to the EUSO in the previous year is invited to send a delegation of two teams with three science student in each team (6 students in total). They are accompanied by not more than one Mentor for each discipline (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) who is also a member and the Scientific Jury (SJ). One mentor may act as the Country Coordinator and Head of the delegation (maximum number 9). The Country Coordinator is the country member of the Governing Body (GB) of the EUSO.
3.2.2 A country may appoint a Country Coordinator who is not a Mentor. This Country Coordinator must pay a fee to be determined by the Host Country

4. EUSO Bodies

4.1 Governing Body

4.1.1 The Governing Body (GB) of the EUSO is the committee of the Country Coordinators that meets during the EUSO competition or more frequently if requested by a majority on the members through the President.
4.1.2 Each participating country must appoint a Country Coordinator (usually one of the Mentors) to represent the country on this committee. The host country appoints the Chairperson of the GB (usually the EUSO Director)
4.1.3 The GB approves change to the EUSO Constitution which come into effect for the following years.
4.1.4 The GB approves the final results of the evaluation and decides on the number of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals to be awarded in accordance with rule 7.4. Members are obliged to keep secret all information about the competition results until the official final announcement
4.1.5 In the event of the EUSO not taking place or in danger of not taking place in any year, the EUSO President has the authority to take over the management of the EUSO and to invite the GB of the previous year to remain in office until a new host country has been accepted.
4.1.6 The GB has the right to exclude students or teams from the competition in the case of a serious breach of the rules.
4.1.7 A country that has not taken part in the competition in the previous year must send an Observer to the EUSO on the year prior to full participation. In the event of the EUSO being cancelled all participating countries including those countries that had agreed to send an observer will be invited to send full delegations to the resumed EUSO.

4.2 Co-ordinating Centre

The Co-ordinating Centre of the EUSO, established at Dublin City University, serves as the headquarters of the EUSO. It fulfils its duties by:
• developing and maintaining the EUSO Web Site.
• storing all relevant EUSO material.
• keeping records and registration of members updated.

4.3 Advisory Board

The Advisory Board (AB) of the EUSO will come into effect in 2005. It will consist of representatives (usually the Directors) of the two previous host countries, the current host country and the two future host countries. It advises the current and future host country on the organisation and running of the EUSO.
The members shall receive an official invitation from the host country of the EUSO

4.4 Scientific Jury

The Scientific Jury (SJ) is a committee formed for each EUSO competition. The EUSO Host Country appoints a distinguished scientist as Chairperson. Its members consist of the Mentors from each participating country.
4.4.1 Duties of the Scientific Jury
• The SJ inspects the laboratories and equipment where the experiments will be carried out.
• The SJ discusses and approves the tasks, the solutions and the marking scheme submitted by the Scientific Committee (SC) of the Host Country.
• The SJ has the right to check the procedures and results of the evaluation performed by the Host Country. This includes verification of the marking processes.
• The SJ members are obliged to keep secret all information about the competition tasks, results and evaluation until the official final announcement.
• The decision of the SJ is final.

4.5 President

The EUSO President:
• shall be elected by the Governing Body
• shall serve a five-year term and may be re-appointed by the GB.
• shall be an ex-officio member of all EUSO committees
• shall receive an official invitation from the host country of the EUSO
• shall ensure that the EUSO constitution is upheld
• shall chair the GB meeting where changes to the constitution are being discussed
• shall manage the affairs of the EUSO between GB meetings

5. The Rules & Regulations of the EUSO

5.1 The Rules

5.1.1 The business of the EUSO meetings is conducted in English.
5.1.2 EUSO takes place in the Easter/Spring of each year in one of the participating countries. The date to be announced at the GB meeting during the previous EUSO
5.1.3 EUSO is organised by a nominee of the Ministry (ies) for Education of the Host Country.
5.1.4 The organiser of EUSO ensures equal participation of all delegations and invites all countries that have been accepted as members of the competition
5.1.5 Each country is expected to indicate as soon as possible when it will organise the EUSO.
5.1.6 The GB decides all principal questions regarding EUSO.
5.1.7 Decisions are taken on the basis of a simple majority in the presence of at least 75% of members. Each country has one vote. In case of equal votes, the chairperson has a casting vote and takes the final decision.
5.1.8 Training or any other special instruction that is carries out for a selected group of 50 or fewer students, containing the EUSO team members, should not be longer than two weeks in duration.

5.2 Programme

5.2.1 Topics should be chosen that would enable the competitors to exhibit not only their knowledge and skills, but also their ability to think independently and creatively.
5.2.2 The topics for the competition must correspond as far as possible with the science syllabi / curricula / topic lists for sixteen-year-old students in the secondary education system of the EU member states.
5.2.3 In the tasks no experiments should be carried out which cause deterioration of the living conditions of vertebrates. No handling of species protected by EU law is permitted.

5.3 Contestant

5.3.1 The European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO) is a team competition for EU second level school science students who are 16 years of age or younger on the December 31st prior to the competition.

5.3.2 It is not necessary for the students to have been winners at a national science competition created specifically for the EUSO. Existing science competitions or exhibitions may be used for the selection process.
5.3.3 Students may participate twice at most in an EUSO

5.4 Country Coordinators

Each participating Country must appoints an EUSO Country Coordinator and inform the EUSO Coordinating Centre of the appointment. The Country Coordinator who may also be a Mentor is the Head of the Delegation.
5.4.1 Duties of the Country Coordinators
The main duties of the Country Co-ordinator is to:
• confirm that a Mentor for each science discipline has been appointed.
• ensure that participation in the EUSO is arranged.
• guarantee that the rules of the EUSO are upheld.
• serve as GB member
• exchange with the EUSO Director or Chairperson copies of scores awarded by Mentors and scores awarded by SC at an agreed time and place.

5.5 Mentors

Each country appoints a Mentor for each discipline (Biology, Chemistry and Physics). Mentors must be able to translate the text of the competition tasks from English to the students' native language, evaluate the tasks and correct their solutions.
5.5.1 Duties of the Mentor
The main duties of the Mentor is:
• to take part in the Scientific Jury and moderation meetings.
• to forward model / example tasks to the Host Country by a set date.

6. Hosting the EUSO

6.1 The Host Country

6.1.1 The nominee of the Ministry of Education confirms to the EUSO President at least two years in advance that it accepts the responsibility for the organisation of the EUSO.
6.1.2 The host country must appoint a Chairperson, a Director and a Scientific Committee consisting of at least three experts (Biology, Chemistry and Physics).
6.1.3 The Host Country sends an official invitation to all Country Coordinators of the participating countries at least nine months prior to the EUSO.
6.1.4 The invited countries must confirm their participation six months prior to the EUSO.
6.1.5 In the event of more than one country offering to host the EUSO in any particular year the GB will evaluate the proposals and make the final decision.

6.2 Duties of the Host Country
The Host Country must ensure that:
• each Country Coordinators receives an official invitation to send a delegation of 3 teams and 3 mentors or an Observer to the EUSO.
• suitable accommodation and subsistence is provided for each delegation.
• the health and safety of the delegations is provided for.
• laboratories, examination halls, materials and other requirements necessary for the competition in accordance with the rules are provided.
• team guides are provided.
• a cultural and social programme is in place.

7. The Competition

7.1 Structure

The two-part competition is spread over two days with an interval of at least one day and the recommended duration of each part is four hours.

7.2 The Tasks

7.2.1 The Host Country is responsible for the preparation of the tasks for the competition. At least one complete set of test materials and equipment must be made available to the SJ for inspection if a visit to the test site is not provided. Science experts who prepare the tasks should also indicate solutions and a detailed marking scheme.
7.2.2 Each task must be a practical activity incorporating elements of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in approximate equal proportions..
7.2.3 The tasks become valid when approved by the Scientific Jury.
7.2.4 The student teams receive all tasks in their native language (and in English if requested). Translations from English to all native languages is the responsibility of the Mentors and must be signed off by the Country Coordinator in the presence of the EUSO Director or Chairperson at the end of the Scientific Jury meeting.
7.2.5 The tasks should be constructed so that no extra verbal instruction or explanation about the testing procedure is necessary.

7.3 Evaluation

7.3.1 Answers should not be language dependent. Responses should be alphabetic, numerical, graphical, illustrative or a box tick.
7.3.2 Each Task must be designed so that the team can achieve a number of milestones or stage results. The task evaluator will judge and mark these achievements according to agreed procedures.
7.3.3 Statistics on the results must be provided

7.4 Prizes and Awards

7.4.1 Each contestant will receive a Certificate of Participation at the EUSO.
7.4.2 The Chairperson of the EUSO organising committee should announce the official results.
Gold medals: approximately 10% of contestants
Silver medals: approximately 30% of contestants
Bronze medals: all remaining contestants
7.4.3 The total number of gold and silver medals combined must not exceed 50% of the total number of medals awarded.
7.4.4 Bronze medal winners should be announced first in alphabetic order by country.
The Silver medal winners should be announced next in reverse order, e.g. the team receiving the lowest score announced first. The Gold medal winners are then announced in reverse order with the top team being the last to be identified.
7.4.5 The teams receiving the highest score in each task should be recognised
7.4.6 Additional prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the GB or the Host Country.
7.4.7 The results will be proclaimed on an individual team basis
7.4.8 The original scripts will remain in the possession of the Host Country for a period of one year during which time they can be viewed by the GB. They are then destroyed.

7.5 Financial Matters

7.5.1 Each participating country must pay the travel expenses of their delegation to the nearest main Port, Airport or Bus/Rail Station to the competition site in the Host Country.
7.5.2 Each participating country must provide adequate travel, medical and other insurance cover for its entire delegation.
7.5.3 Observers and Visitors must pay an amount to be determined by the Host Country. A country may appoint a Country Coordinator who is not a mentor. This Country Coordinator must pay a fee to be determined by the Host Country
7.5.4 The total cost of running the EUSO is borne by the Host Country.

7.6 Conclusion

7.6.1 The countries taking part in the competition are obliged to observe the EUSO rules.
7.6.2 Countries infringing the rules without adequate explanation may be issued a warning by the GB and if the infringement continues will be suspended from the competition for at least one year.
7.6.3 Changes to the constitution can only be made at a GB meeting chaired by the President, in the presence of at least 75% of members and on the basis of a simple majority. The revised constitution becomes valid only after the completion of the current EUSO. Proposed changes must be sent to the President three months before the GB meeting. An agenda will then be circulated to the members.
7.6.4 The display of national flags and emblems at the opening and closing ceremonies is prohibited.
7.6.5 The GB will decide upon any matter that is not included in these rules.

8. Contact Address
Mr. Michael A. Cotter
Director EUSO Coordinating Centre, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, IRELAND
Telephone: ++ 353 1 700 8807
Mobile: ++ 353 87 239 4043
Fax: ++ 353 1 284 5721
Email:
URL: http://www.euso.ie