Gausi shines at the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition

Students at the University of Malawi bring pride to the institution as they continue to demonstrate academic excellence both locally and globally through various international competitions organized by different bodies. A fourth-year Physics student, Mr. Moses Gausi, participated in the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition (IAAC), and on 22nd September 2025, IAAC announced the winners, with Mr. Gausi being recognized as Malawi’s top performer.

The competition is an educational science initiative that allows students from across the globe to test their knowledge and skills in astronomy and astrophysics. Since its inception in 2019, thousands of students worldwide have participated, forming a vibrant global network of young scientists.

Mr. Gausi’s passion for astrophysics motivated him to enter the competition, which aimed at showcasing participants’ understanding of complex astronomical concepts. He successfully tackled sophisticated astrophysics problems that required a deep comprehension of the universe.

Gausi was competing against over 12,300 participants globally. He successfully advanced through all three rounds of the competition. The final round comprised of a supervised exam consisting of twenty challenging questions that tested comprehensive astronomy and astrophysics knowledge. Gausi scored 16 points, earning him a place among the top 8% of all participants.

“It is difficult to express what I feel in words. I am happy to represent my country, Malawi, and, most importantly, the University of Malawi. I wasn’t expecting such an honour and international recognition as one of the potential astrophysicists from Malawi,” said Gausi. “Besides the certificate and a US$125 cash prize, I was also offered an opportunity to become one of the Global Ambassadors for the IAAC, an offer that comes with immense benefits for anyone passionate about astrophysics.” He also expressed his gratitude to Dr. Bernard Mmame for his invaluable guidance throughout the competition.

Gausi achieved the highest national score and was awarded a Silver Honour Certificate.