Email: rshankargeo@gmail.com
(I wrote this article on the International Earth Science Olympiad for the maiden issue of a student magazine published by Aswatha Biju, a 12th grade student from India.)
Dear Students,
Consider these aspects:
1. Due to global warming and climate change, natural and human-induced calamities are occurring with increased frequency and with increasing fury; Calamities like earthquakes, landslides, droughts, floods, melting glaciers, wildfires, avalanches, and so on.
2. We need clean air, clean water and for our survival. Besides, we need rocks, minerals, metals and materials for our amenities and comforts.
3. Our environment (air, water and soil) are polluted due to human activities.
What is the unifying thread that runs through all these aspects? It is the Earth System Science (ESS).
To impress upon young students like you the importance of ESS, a unique educational activity was started: the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO). We hope that understanding and appreciating ESS through this activity would help you deal with and combat the catastrophic consequences that we are already witnessing.
This article provides a broad introduction to what IESO is, its aims and objectives, its components and how you can possibly participate in this unique olympiad. Read through and hop on to the IESO wagon
WHAT IS IESO?
IESO is a flagship activity of the International Geoscience Education Organisation (IGEO; www.igeoscied.org) that is held every year during August/September in a pre-decided country. It started in 2007 in South Korea with the participation of only a few countries. However, it has grown in stature and in the number of participating countries over the years.
The main objectives of IESO are:
1. To enhance the quality of Earth Science Education in schools across the world,
2. To kindle interest in Earth Sciences (ES) among school students and enhance public awareness of ES,
3. To encourage friendly relationships among young learners from different countries, and
4. To promote international cooperation in exchanging ideas and materials on Earth Sciences and Earth Science Education.
WHO CAN TAKE PART IN IESO?
You can participate if you are studying in a high school or higher secondary school. However, you should not be enrolled in a college/ university at the time of participation in IESO. You should NOT have been born before July 1, X-19 (X = the year of IESO). For example, for IESO 2025, the threshold is July 1, 2006. There is no discrimination based on caste, creed, colour or gender.
A national team comprises four students and two mentors. More students can register as guest students but they will NOT be entitled to any award or medal. You can take part in an IESO only once – as a team member or as a guest student. IESO statutes, syllabus and further details at www.igeoscied.org
HOW CAN YOU TAKE PART IN IESO?
You must be part of your national team chosen to represent your country at IESO. So, get in touch with the nodal agency in your country that chooses the national team. For example, in India, it is the Geological Society of India.
WHAT IS THE REGISTRATION FEE FOR A TEAM?
Each national team has to register with the IESO hosting country, paying a registration fee of 1,000 Euros. Developing country teams can request for a waiver. Registered teams are entitled to accommodation, food and local transportation related to IESO. International travel and insurance are the responsibility of the national team.
WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES IN IESO?
You will have exciting activities in IESO! We consider IESO as a vehicle to promote earth science education in schools across the world. The various test components of IESO, therefore, aim to do just that: introduce and promote experiential learning, analytical skills, and (earth) systems thinking amongst participants. These are in dire contrast to the rote learning that goes on in classrooms in many parts of the world, giving rise to a disinterest in earth science; as a consequence, brilliant, enthusiastic students like you do not choose earth sciences for their higher education and careers.
IESO comprises activities of both competition and cooperation – Written test and Practical test in the first category; the Earth Systems Project (ESP), and the International Team Field Investigation (ITFI) in the second.
1. Written Test (WT): will have multiple choice questions (involving more than one earth system) that will make you think, analyse the given data and then arrive at the correct answer. Rest assured that they will be from within the official IESO syllabus (https://www.igeoscied.org/activities/ieso-2/syllabus/), will be of high school standard, and will not demand high level mathematics from you. OK?
2. Practical Field Test (PFT): will have questions that encompass as many earth systems as possible to make the question paper wholesome. They will involve field observations and/or small laboratory experiments. All the necessary gears will be provided that will help you arrive at the answer.
For WT and PFT, participants will be awarded gold/silver/bronze medals individually based on their standing in the merit list.
Next, we move on to co-operative activities. One of the main objectives of IESO is to promote international co-operation and forge bridges of friendship among young, talented students across the world. To achieve this, IESO organises two activities: International Team Field Investigation (ITFI) and Earth Systems Project (ESP). They make IESO unique! In this respect, IESO is different from all other international science olympiads. The spirit here is not competition but cooperation – cooperation among students from different nationalities, with diverse cultures and varied backgrounds. This is important today, and much more so in future, because major strides in scientific research are no longer possible by the efforts of individual scientists but of groups of scientists from different disciplines, institutions and nations. Each international team will consist of 6-8 students.
3. International Field Team Investigation (ITFI): starts with a research question for a project site. It involves field investigation, laboratory work using state-of-the-art instruments where possible, and data gathering and interpretation. You, as part of the group, will do all these and come up with a hypothesis and answer the research question. Your group will prepare a report and make a PowerPoint presentation.
4. Earth Systems Project (ESP): An ESP topic is of significance to the hosting country/region and involves many earth systems (For example, the Indian monsoon for the IESO in Mysore). It lays emphasis on the evaluation and development of the following scientific skills: data collection, data analysis, reasoning, systems thinking, communication and collaboration and oral and written presentation. You, as part of a multinational groups of students, will research the topic analysing the data you collect from the internet. Your group would present the results and findings as a poster.
Your ITFI presentations and ESP posters will be evaluated by international juries. Deserving teams will be awarded team medals in gold/silver/bronze categories.
All IESO participants will receive a certificate of participation. You can use it while seeking admission to universities!
Besides the above, there are two activities that you can take part in: the International Geoscience Youth Movement (I-GYM) and the Young Reporters Program.
5. International Geoscience Youth Movement (I-GYM): intends to inspire and engage young students of ES. Interested participants of IESO at an evening session share their experiences in spreading the importance of earth science ES and ES education in their schools and regions. It began in 2024 for which the keynote speaker was Ms. Aswatha Biju. I bet you know her already! She made a presentation on her activities like workshops for interested students and general public, collection and research on fossils, and the establishment of Fossil Forever Club. You too could share your experiences at IESO! As a follow up, we are organizing a week-long workshop in July at Bengaluru for participants who signed up last year. They will experience (a) the Earth Systems Education approach (inquiry-based learning, field exploration, and integration and systems thinking); (b) Social activities to consolidate a cohesive group with a common goal; and (c) Activities to hone and strengthen Leadership skills.
6. Young Reporters Program: Its main goal is to foster understanding, raise awareness and train the next generation of science communicators. Passionate and talented young/ early career geoscientists like you will interview relevant authorities, create reports, videos and essays to inform and engage the general public on various topics related to geosciences; in particular natural and human-induced hazards, curious geologic phenomena and the like. You will explain in your essay/ video how we study planet earth and the ways in which our actions as individuals have an impact on Planet Earth.
Besides, you will experience a cultural trip of the host city and the glittering opening and awards ceremonies!