The International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO),
one of the twelve International Science Olympiads,
is an annual competition for secondary school
students that tests their abilities in disciplines
such as geology, meteorology, environmental
science, and terrestrial astronomy.
Students who are winners of the respective
national competitions are invited to participate
in the IESO, and all interested countries
are encouraged to contribute to the IESO.
It is one of the major activities of the International
Geoscience Education Organization – IGEO
that aims at raising student interest in and
public awareness of Earth sciences, as well
as to enhance Earth science learning of students.
== History ==
The IESO was first suggested by Korean earth
scientists.
In 2003, the Korean Earth Science Society
(KESS) organized the first Korean Earth Science
Olympiad.
The international competition was adopted
as one of major activities of International
Geoscience Education Organization later that
year.
In November 2004 in Seoul, representatives
from ten countries gathered to discuss the
curriculum and the format of IESO.
23 presentations were made and the IESO Advisory
Committee was established with members including
Chairperson Moo Young Song, Hendra Amijaya,
Roberto Greco, Ken-ichiro Hisada, Thomas Lorillard
Tailer, Chang Chun-Yen, Miguel Cano, Shankar
Rajasekharaiah, and Chan-Jong Kim.
The IESO Syllabus Commission was then developed
in 2005, and the first International competition
was held in 2007.
The first IESO was held in October 2007 in
Daegu, South Korea, where the Chinese Taipei
team won first place with three gold medals
and one silver medal.
The Korean team placed second with one gold
and three silver medals, the United States
followed in third with two silver and two
bronze medals, and India was placed fourth
with two silver medals.Second (2008) competition
took place in Manila, Philippines, with the
theme "Cooptition in Addressing Climate Change"
(the word "cooptition" refers to a combination
of competition and cooperation).
Its aim was to promote global Earth science
education and international cooperation in
mitigating anthropogenic harm to the environment.
Third IESO took place in Taipei, in September
2009 with the theme "Human Environment".
Fourth IESO took place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
in September 2010 with the theme "The Present
is the key to the Future".
The IESO is one of the only three International
Science Olympiads (along with the International
Linguistics Olympiad and International Olympiad
on Astronomy and Astrophysics) to include
an International Team Competition.
Past International Team Competitions have
included 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
Competition focus on sustainability and the
use of underground water.
The 2013 IESO was performed in Mysore, India,
and in 2014, in Santander, Spain.
The 2015 IESO took place in Poços de Caldas,
Minas Gerais, Brazil.
31 countries participated in IESO 2016.
== Summary
