What is IESO?

The International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) is an annual competition for secondary school students from all around the world, bringing together young minds passionate about understanding our planet. Organized by the International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO), the IESO is one of the twelve International Science Olympiads and the only one to have been founded outside of Europe.

Since its first edition in Daegu, South Korea, in 2007, the IESO has grown into a truly global event, welcoming over 100 students from more than 30 countries and regions every year.

Why Earth Sciences?

Earth Sciences are at the heart of some of the most pressing challenges that humanity is facing today — from climate change and natural disasters to sustainable development and resource management. Yet despite their importance, Earth Sciences remain underrepresented in school curricula around the world.

The IESO was created to change that. By bringing students, educators, and scientists together on an international stage, they help raise public awareness of geosciences, inspire the next generation of Earth scientists, and strengthen the quality of Earth Science education globally. It has also become a meaningful credential for students pursuing Earth Science programs at universities worldwide.

Who Can Participate?

IESO are open to secondary school students who are not older than 18 years old on July 1st of the competition year. Each national delegation consists of 4 students and 2 supervisors, the latter being specialists in Earth sciences or Earth science education who also serve as members of the International Jury.

The official language of the competition is English, though supervisors are allowed to translate written materials into participants' native languages.

How the Olympiad works

Participants are tested across all major areas of Earth Sciences, including geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, terrestrial astronomy, and environmental sciences. The competition includes three types of assessment:

Theoric — Written examination Problems designed to measure participants' knowledge and conceptual understanding across all Earth science disciplines.

Practical — Practical examination Hands-on tasks that assess participants' ability to carry out scientific investigations in real Earth science contexts.

Field — Team field investigation The ITFI — a unique feature of IESO not found in any other International Science Olympiad. See below.

All exam materials are prepared by specialists in Earth sciences and Earth science education, who also provide solutions and evaluation guidelines.

The International Team Field Investigation (ITFI)

The ITFI groups students into mixed-nationality teams to investigate a real-world Earth science challenge in the field. Past investigations have included building stratigraphic sequences, studying life on the slopes of a volcano, evaluating earthquake fault escarpments, and assessing underground water sustainability. The ITFI has its own dedicated awards and embodies the IESO's spirit of international friendship, collaboration, and scientific curiosity.