The International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) took place on 26 August – 3 September 2019 in the Daegu city, Korea. It was a big success for Estonia: our pupils were awarded two bronze and two silver medals. In addition, a gold medal was achieved in team work.
Estonia was represented at the Olympiad by Krete Roopõld, Lee Ann Madissoon and Markus Vaher from Tallinna Reaalkool (Tallinn Secondary School of Science) and Linda Kuusik from Gustav Adolfi Gümnaasium (Gustav Adolf Grammar School). The accompanying supervisors were the director of the Geological Survey of Estonia Alvar Soesoo and Senior GIS Specialist Sigrid Hade.
All the members of the Estonian team returned home with a medal. Krete Roopõld and Markus Vaher achieved a silver medal. Lee Ann Madissoon and Linda Kuusik were awarded a bronze medal. Markus Vaher gained a gold medal in teamwork.
During two days, the participants of the Olympiad solved both theoretical and practical problems on geology, mineral resources, structural geology, environmental sciences, geophysics, astronomy, hydrology and related fields of Earth systems. As additional activities, the pupils solved practical field problems in international teams, prepared and presented a poster in the field of critical environmental changes.
The overall winner of the practical problems was a pupil from the USA, and the winner of the theoretical part a pupil from South Korea. Altogether, 43 teams consisting of 181 pupils participated in the Olympiad.
The International Earth Science Olympiad was arranged already for the 13th time, but an Estonian team participated in the contest only for the second time. The very first participation took place in Thailand, being a success for the team, as well.
Our representative team was put together on the basis of results from the national Earth Science Olympiad, which took place in March this year under the leadership of the Tallinn University of Technology Department of Geology.
Professors and lecturers from the Tallinn University of Technology and Tartu University assisted in accomplishing preparations of the pupils for the Olympiad. The Geological Survey of Estonia manages the preparations of Estonian youth for taking part in the International Earth Science Olympiad.
Participation in the Olympiad was supported by the Geological Survey of Estonia, the Tartu University Department of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn City Government, the Welfare Society of the Tallinn Secondary School of Science and several experts in Earth science.
