PUBLISHED: AUG 27, 2023, 7:33 AM
© IASO Organizing Committee / Oliver Williams | Judges engage in a lively discussion with young contestants about their interdisciplinary projects at the 2023 International Artscience Olympiad.
Barcelona, Spain – The 2023 International ArtScience Olympiad (IASO), also known as the International Olympiad ArtScience Contest (IOASC), successfully concluded at the Barcelona Hub of the International Olympic Innovation Organization from August 17 to 20. Over four days, 428 teenage participants from 19 countries – spanning Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, and the United States, among others – gathered to explore the theme "Harmony." The event, which combined a competitive contest, a public exhibition, and a research program, drew over 5,000 visitors and established itself as a landmark for youth-driven, cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Contest: 128 Competitors, 64 Winning Works Highlight "Harmony"
This year’s IASO was a rigorous competition that challenged participants to blend scientific principles with artistic expression to reflect the "harmony" theme. Contestants submitted works across four categories, including digital media, interactive installations, bio-art, and data visualization – all designed to showcase how science and art can together reveal balance in nature, technology, and human society.
After 3 rounds of judging by a panel of 12 international experts (including 5 scientists, 4 artists, and 3 STEM educators), 64 entries were selected as "Outstanding Works," including a Brazilian team’s "Rainforest Symbiosis" – an interactive sound installation that uses sensors to translate plant growth data into musical melodies, illustrating harmony between flora and technology – and a Japanese participant’s "Cosmic Balance" series, which uses mathematical algorithms to generate abstract paintings of planetary orbits, merging astrophysics with visual art.
"The winning works don’t just ‘show’ harmony – they explain it through science and make it feel tangible through art," said Elena Marquez, an IASO judge and an environmental scientist. "These young creators have proven that interdisciplinary thinking is key to solving global challenges rooted in imbalance."
Exhibition: 64 Winners + 21 Invited Works Open to the Public
Following the contest, the International Olympiad ArtScience Exhibition opened on August 21, featuring all 64 outstanding contest entries, plus 21 invited works from renowned artists and scientists – a deliberate choice to connect youth innovation with professional practice. Over 5,200 visitors attended the 7-day exhibition, including 1,800 local students, 900 educators, and 300 representatives from tech and art industries. "Seeing my work alongside professional pieces made me realize that ‘harmony’ isn’t just a theme – it’s a way of working across fields," said 17-year-old Liam Torres from Mexico, whose "Urban Green Harmony" (a model city with solar-powered art installations) was among the winning entries.
Research Program: 38 Participants, 32 Final Reports
To extend the impact of the contest and exhibition, the Committee launched a 2-week Research-Learning Program for 38 selected participants (chosen for their contest performance and research interests). Led by 8 mentors (4 scientists and 4 artists from Spanish universities and cultural institutions), the program tasked teams with turning their contest ideas into actionable research projects focused on "harmony-driven solutions."
Participants collaborated in 19 teams (2 students per team, paired across countries) to address topics like "sustainable art materials for community murals" and "VR simulation tools to teach harmony in urban design." By the end of the program, 32 final research reports were completed. "The program taught me to move beyond ‘creating art’ or ‘doing science’ alone," said 16-year-old Aisha Khan from India, whose team’s report on "biodegradable paint for street art" was published. "Harmony means listening to both scientists and communities – and that’s what we did."
