Julie Barrientos, a chemical engineering student at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), represented Guatemala in the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition (IAAC). The IAAC is recognized as one of the leading global competitions in space sciences. Barrientos received an international Bronze Honorable Mention and secured first place nationally.
The IAAC, based in Germany and conducted remotely, allows students from various countries to test their skills in astronomy and astrophysics. Barrientos ranked within the top 15 percent of over 3,000 participants, earning both the international distinction and the national award.
The competition consists of three stages. The initial qualification round focuses on general space science problems, during which participants may receive assistance from instructors or others. In the semifinal round, participants tackle six problems—two basic, two advanced, and two research-based—without external help. For research tasks, they analyze scientific articles to determine current or potential scenarios; this phase lasts four days.
Top-performing students advance to the final round. In this stage, contestants answer 20 advanced-level questions while recording themselves on camera. According to Barrientos, each question had a time limit of 60 seconds for a response. The questions covered topics from earlier rounds as well as previous years’ exams; she prepared by reviewing materials dating back to 2019.
Barrientos learned about the IAAC through social media channels focused on science topics and saw it as an entry point into astronomy. Preparation for the pre-final stage required extensive reading. “That part I loved because I read essential books such as those focused on modern physics,” said Barrientos. She also noted her initial apprehension before competing but overcame it with encouragement from her mother: “She told me that I shouldn’t give up and should challenge myself even if I didn’t know certain topics.”
In addition to her participation in IAAC, Barrientos has been involved in other UVG scientific projects as a first-year student. She is part of the Taq Balam team in development units and works on biodiesel initiatives. She is also engaged in microalgae research aimed at applications in medical, cosmetic, and food sectors.
Barrientos’s interest in science began during her early education levels; UVG provided significant support through programs such as Women in Engineering and Girls Steam Club 2023.
Discussing how space sciences connect with chemical engineering, Barrientos explained: “Astrophysics seeks to understand phenomena like planetary motion while chemical engineering has given me solid foundations in physics, calculus, and chemistry. All that knowledge helped me analyze and solve complex problems during the IAAC competition.”
Her achievement highlights connections between space science concepts and chemistry.
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