The International Earth Science Olympiad – IESO, was founded as one of the major activities of the International Geoscience Education Organization – IGEO.
IGEO
is affiliated to and sponsored by International Union of Geological
Sciences (IUGS). The aims of IGEO are to promote Geoscience education at
all international levels, to encourage and develop the public awareness
of Geoscience, especially among young people and to work on the
improvement of the quality of Geoscience education all over the world.
The IESO is an annual competition for
secondary school students (students not older than 18 years old on July
the 1st of the year of the Olympiad). The students have to test their
skills in all major areas of Earth sciences, including geology,
geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, terrestrial astronomy and
environmental sciences. The theoretical examination includes problems
which are supposed to measure the participants’ knowledge and
understanding of Earth science areas. The practical examination consists
of tasks which are designed to assess participants’ abilities to carry
out scientific investigations in earth science inquiries. The
examinations are prepared by specialists in Earth sciences and Earth
science education, who also provide solutions and evaluation guidelines.
Each delegation is composed of 4 students and 2 supervisors. The latter
must be specialists in Earth science and Earth science education and
capable of serving as members of the International Jury. The official
language of IESO is English; however, the supervisors may translate the
written examinations and related materials into to the participants’
native language.
The main aim of the IESO is to encourage
students’ interest and public awareness of Earth Science and to enhance
Earth science learning. With the IESO the organizers hope to pick out
talented and gifted Earth science students and to promote the
improvement of teaching Earth sciences at schools. Last but not least,
the IESO is developed in pursuit of encouraging friendly relationships
among young learners from different countries and promoting
international cooperation in exchanging ideas and materials on Earth
sciences and Earth sciences education.
The IESO is the only International
Olympiad that includes an International Team Field Investigation – ITFI.
The last International Team Field Investigation focused on: developing
stratigraphic sequences, evaluating living on the Mt. Mayon volcano, and
evaluating the fault escarpment of the Chi-Chi earthquake. In 2010 in
Indonesia the International Team Field Investigation focused attention
on sustainability and use of the underground water. Thus, ITFI turns out
to be a special IESO tool to encourage friendly relationships among
young learners from different countries and to promote international
cooperation.
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