The Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kadri Simson acknowledged today in Tallinn the pupils of Tallinna Reaalkool (Tallinn Secondary School of Science), who successfully represented Estonia in the International Earth Science Olympiad, as well as their supervisors and supporters.
The International Earth Science Olympiad took place on 8–17 August in Thailand. Estonia was represented by pupils of the Tallinn Secondary School of Science – Robin Haljak, Andres Sakk, Willem Klaassen and Andreas Must, who brought home one silver and three bronze medals. Moreover, group work diplomas were received. The participants solved both theoretical and practical exercises in geology, geological resources, structural geology, environmental sciences, geophysics, astronomy and hydrology.
Our contestants were supervised by professor Alvar Soesoo and Sigrid Hade from the Geological Survey of Estonia. In addition, professor Kalle Kirsimäe and senior scientist Argo Jõeleht from the Tartu University Department of Geology and professor Siim Veski from the Tallinn University of Technology assisted in preparations.
“Science education in Estonian schools has been at a high level for tens of years, which is also reflected by the olympiad results in Thailand. It is exceptional to receive several medals already in the first time of taking part in an international olympiad. There are plenty of people in the world who master sciences and who know the use of technology, i.e. scientists, engineers and IT specialists. There are several good examples in Estonia – among others, the Skeleton company manufacturing super condensers, GuardTime, the creator of time stamp. Thus, prerequisites and possibilities exist for our youth to reach world class in natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics, not only as scientists but also as entrepreneurs, do exist,” said Kadri Simson, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure.
“It is close to our heart at the Geological Survey of Estonia to contribute in the preparation of Estonian pupils in the International Earth Science Olympiad both through training and supervision, as well as through financing. We are ready to accomplish this in co-operation with the universities also further on. Brilliant results achieved by our youth show that we are world class in Earth sciences, and the achieved medals are a recognition to our schooling system as a whole,” added professor Alvar Soesoo, the director of the Geological Survey of Estonia.
In addition to the Geological Survey of Estonia, the Estonian olympiad representatives were supported also by the Tallinn Education Department, Tallinn Secondary School of Science, the Welfare Society of the Tallinn Secondary School of Science, Tartu University Department of Geology and several experts in Earth science. In total, some 150 pupils from 39 states participated in the olympiad in Thailand.
