Rakett juunior opens applications for third season

ERR reports that the youth science competition Rakett juunior has opened applications for its third season, inviting teams of fourth- to sixth-grade pupils from schools across Estonia to test their knowledge, ingenuity and teamwork.

The competition is organised by the Estonian Research Agency, the AHHAA Science Centre and Swedbank. Its aim is to identify Estonia’s smartest basic school by assessing pupils’ logical thinking, knowledge and ability to work as a team.

Schools can register three-member teams until September 27. The preliminary rounds will take place during the school holiday from October 26 to 29. The winning team will receive a trip to an unspecified science centre in Europe.

To qualify, each team must make a short video together and complete an intelligence test. The rules and registration form are available at www.rakettjuunior.ee.

Annely Allik, head of the Estonian Research Agency’s science communication department, said the competition aims to encourage children to notice science in everyday life and understand that intelligence can take many forms.

“Children’s enthusiasm and curiosity must be supported from an early age so that they retain the courage to experiment, ask questions and try different approaches,” Allik said. She added that creative use of knowledge and finding less obvious solutions help develop critical thinking and ingenuity.

Rasmus Rohtla, the competition’s chief judge and head of the education department at the AHHAA Science Centre, said the previous two seasons had shown how many curious and courageous young people there are in Estonian schools.

“The competition gives pupils the opportunity to experiment, think things through, make mistakes and try again, and discover how much can be achieved through good cooperation,” he said.

Swedbank is again the competition’s main sponsor. Its head of sponsorship activities, Kärt Kaasik-Kepler, said the programme supports young people’s thirst for knowledge, cooperation skills and logical thinking in an educational and playful format.

Kuressaare Hariduse School won the first season, while Peetri Kindergarten Basic School in Rae Parish won the second. ETV will begin broadcasting the competition from the quarter-finals in spring 2027.