The International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO): A way to raise public awareness of geoscience, particularly amongst younger people and enhance the quality of geoscience education internationally

Abstract

The number of countries that took part at each Olympiad varies according to the history of the competition, and the attention that National Governments and societies give different subjects. The idea to create an International Earth Science Olympiad originated from the International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO) (http://www.geoscied.org/) because this was the last scientific subject without an international competition. IGEO is affiliated to and sponsored by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and collaborates with the Commission on Geoscience Education, Training and Technology Transfer (COGE). Members from over 35 countries are represented in IGEO. Since 1959 when the first International Math Olympiad for school students was held, other scientific Olympiads have developed, last but not least, the International Earth Science Olympiad-(IESO) in 2007. This article summarizes the organisation of this event that to date has involved 39 countries and aims to involve more in the future. IESO is a competition for school students where the best students from all over the world test their knowledge and abilities in the subject. It is an amazing opportunity for brilliant students, with an interest in Earth science to get to know each other, share their passion and grow an international network. It highlights the importance of increasing the range of countries that participate in this competition and the role national selection processes can play to focus the attention of National Ministries of Education to give the appropriate time and space for Earth science in the school curricula. This in turn can lead to more school students continuing with post-school studies in the Earth sciences and take up careers in this field, following their passion for Earth science and thus contributing to their countries growth.

Spanish Geology Olympiad winners: What they think about their geology learning and the Olympics experience? A prospective study

“…Similar responses have been observed in students participating in other Olympics, such as those in Brazil, in which, according to Castro et al (2015), many young people were encouraged not only to participate in other scientific Olympiads but also to become scientists in the fields of geosciences. In other countries such as Italy, there is also a notable increase in the number of students in the first years of geology degrees at universities such as Modena or Reggio Emilia due, in large part, to the offer of activities in the style of the geology Olympics that allow dissemination among young people (Greco and Gualtieri, 2010;Greco et al, 2013).…”

“…In 1959, the first International Mathematics Olympiad for pre-university students was held in Romania, and since then, other scientific Olympics have joined this initiative (Greco et al, 2013). The idea of an International Earth Sciences Olympiad arose within the International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO), which is attached to the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).…”