Harvard Undergraduate Science Olympiad China

*Upon enrolment and successful admission into this programme, you will be eligible for scholarships for the Coursera online courses leading to the Google Career Certificate, available exclusively on AISL Mall.

What is Harvard Undergraduate Science Olympiad (HUSO)?

Open Round

In the open exams, you will have 2.5 hours to complete the test packet which contains all 5 subjects and can be done in any order. Open exams are multiple choice only and each question is +1 for a correct answer and -0.25 for an incorrect answer. Your subject score is calculated relative to how well others perform on that subject and your total score is the sum of your best 4 subject scores.

Click here to access the Open Exam Syllabuses.

Final Round

The HUSO China Finalist Camp is an immersive experience for students who qualify from the initial exam, offering a unique blend of academic challenge and hands-on exploration. During the camp, participants will take their final exams while deepening their understanding of core STEM disciplines. Beyond exams, students will engage in dynamic, hands-on workshops that highlight the exciting intersections of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through interactive experiments, collaborative projects, and mentorship from Harvard and MIT students, attendees will gain a strong foundation in STEM while discovering the power of interdisciplinary innovation. This camp is not just about learning—it’s about inspiring the next generation of trailblazing scientists and problem-solvers.

Workshops Information

1. Maths:

• • When Cooperation Fails: A Hands-On Introduction to Game Theory (Yufei) Why do people sometimes refuse to cooperate, even when cooperation would benefit everyone? Yufei’s game theory workshop lets you play a hands‑on version of the Prisoner’s Dilemma—don’t underestimate this game. The incentives it reveals can explain everything from business competition to international relations. From there, we’ll explore the Hawk‑Dove model to see how the same mathematical tools describe competition and coexistence in the animal world.
  • Introduction to Machine Learning (Yufei) Curious about machine learning? Yufei’s other session starts from the ground up. Using Jupyter Notebook, you’ll train a simple model yourself. From linear classifiers to neural networks, you’ll witness firsthand when the model gets it right—and when it gets confused. So this is what powers the recommendation systems and spam filters we use every day.
  • The Mathematics of Infinity (Kathy) In Kathy’s mathematical world, infinity isn’t a single number—it’s a maze. Some infinite sets are actually larger than others? Through mind‑bending yet fascinating thought experiments like Hilbert’s Hotel and Cantor’s diagonal argument, you’ll build an intuitive understanding of infinity step by step.
  • The Mathematics of Paradoxes (Kathy) If you enjoy spotting logical flaws, Kathy’s other workshop is for you. How does a seemingly flawless mathematical proof end up claiming that 1 = 2? What’s really wrong with Zeno’s paradox about Achilles and the tortoise? By dissecting these classic mathematical paradoxes, you’ll see how small reasoning gaps can lead to astonishing conclusions—and how paradoxes themselves have driven the evolution of mathematical thought time and again.

2. Physics:

• • Pressure, Gas Laws, and the air around us (Daniel) Air is invisible and intangible, but Daniel has a way for you to “grab” it. With just a syringe and a few weights, you can measure the molar density and pressure of the air right in your own classroom. Through this experiment, you’ll also learn tools that physicists use every day—linear fitting, uncertainty calculation, and more. Understanding the invisible forces around us isn’t as hard as it seems.
  • Reconstructing Fundamental Constants from First Principles (Daniel) And Daniel’s other experiment? It’s practically made for the food‑loving scientist. Measure the speed of light using marshmallows and chocolate in a microwave? Yes—by observing the melting patterns left by standing waves on your snacks, you can calculate the wavelength, combine it with the frequency, and derive one of the most fundamental constants in the universe. Einstein’s theory of relativity might feel distant, but the speed of light? You can measure it yourself, right now.

• 3. Chemistry

  • Intro to Organic Chemistry (Bianca) Ever wanted to understand those complex “hexagons” in your chemistry textbook? Bianca’s introductory organic chemistry workshop will take you step by step—from skeletal structures to functional groups—helping you see how molecular structure determines reactivity. Through 3D molecular visualisation, you’ll actually “see” those abstract structures with your own eyes. Organic chemistry isn’t as hard as it seems—it’s right there in the clothes you wear, the perfumes you smell, and the medicines you use.
  • Exploring the World of Proteins (Bianca) Bianca’s other workshop takes you into the microscopic world of proteins. From amino acids to complex three‑dimensional structures, from protein folding to biological function—you’ll get to use tools that real scientists rely on: PyMol for molecular visualisation, and the Nobel Prize‑winning AlphaFold for protein structure prediction. It turns out that life’s most intricate “molecular machines” can also be simulated and predicted by computers.

4. Biology

• • Comparative Medicine: What Animals Tell Us about Human Disease (Runyi) Have you ever wondered whether the answers to human diseases like fainting, heart disease, or cancer might actually lie in animals? In Runyi’s workshop, you’ll step into the world of comparative medicine. From wild animals to laboratory mice, how do scientists observe animals to develop more effective drugs and therapies? This session will give you a whole new understanding of the weight behind the word “evolution.”
  • Discovering Science (Runyi) Bianca’s other workshop takes you into the microscopic world of proteins. From amino acids to complex three‑dimensional structures, from protein folding to biological function—you’ll get to use tools that real scientists rely on: PyMol for molecular visualization, and the Nobel Prize‑winning AlphaFold for protein structure prediction. It turns out that life’s most intricate “molecular machines” can also be simulated and predicted by computers.
  • Exploring the World of Proteins (Bianca) Runyi’s other classroom feels more like a journey into “scientific archaeology.” We all know that mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell—but what did the scientists who first discovered this actually do? You’ll recreate the classic experiments that made history, using foldable microscopes to observe cell slides, retracing the steps of the pioneers of biology. It turns out that scientific discovery can be traced, step by step.
  • Exploring the World of Proteins (Bianca) Bianca’s other workshop takes you into the microscopic world of proteins. From amino acids to complex three‑dimensional structures, from protein folding to biological function—you’ll get to use tools that real scientists rely on: PyMol for molecular visualisation, and the Nobel Prize‑winning AlphaFold for protein structure prediction. It turns out that life’s most intricate “molecular machines” can also be simulated and predicted by computers.

5. Environmental Science

• • Designing Clean Water Systems (Annabel) Every day, we turn on the faucet and clean water flows out—but how do cities actually turn polluted river water into drinking water? Annabel will invite you to play the role of an environmental engineer for a day. Using aluminum sulfate to simulate coagulation and flocculation, comparing different filtration materials, and treating a batch of simulated wastewater yourself, you’ll learn the principles behind purification technologies like particle settling and surface interactions. You’ll come to understand that a glass of clean water is the result of a precise collaboration between chemistry, physics, and engineering.
  • Chemistry of a Changing Ocean (Annabel) And if you care about climate change, Annabel’s other workshop will take you beneath the ocean’s surface. What happens to the oceans when atmospheric carbon dioxide rises? By simulating a seawater system containing salt and bicarbonate, you’ll predict changes in pH firsthand and see how acidification threatens the survival of shellfish and other marine life. This isn’t just a distant environmental issue—it’s a scientific question you can verify with experimental data.

Special Events

Quiz Bowl

The Quiz Bowl is a fast‑paced academic competition that challenges participants across a broad range of subjects, including biology, physics, and other core disciplines. Students will form teams of four to five, testing their breadth of knowledge, speed of thinking, and collaborative strategy as they compete in a dynamic buzzer‑style format. Designed to encourage intellectual agility and teamwork, the Quiz Bowl celebrates academic excellence, with the top three teams recognised as winners for their outstanding performance.

Participation Process