South Korea's science team wins medals across the board at International Earth Science Olympiad

All four members of South Korea's delegation to the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad won medals, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity announced Saturday.

The competition was held in Turin, Italy, and drew 169 students from 41 countries. South Korea was represented by Na Hyo-chan of Gwangju Science High School (second year), Seo Ha-jin of Gyeongsan Science High School (second year), Gong Yun-woo of South Gyeongsang Province Science High School (third year) and Park Jae-sung of South Gyeongsang Province Science High School (third year).

The International Earth Science Olympiad is structured around three components: an individual written examination, a multinational team field investigation and an Earth system project, with awards given in each category.

The individual written examination consisted of a theory test and a practical test. The theory test required students to analyze information on five topics related to Earth systems and answer questions, lasting a total of 390 minutes. The practical test involved observing and analyzing minerals, rocks, rivers and outcrops in the Turin area and presenting findings, lasting 240 minutes. In this category, Na won a gold medal, Seo a silver, and Gong and Park each earned a bronze.

The International Team Field Investigation brought together groups of six to seven students of different nationalities to observe outdoor outcrops in the Turin region and interpret the geological environment, with each team presenting their findings. All four South Korean students were assigned to different teams; the teams that included Park and Seo each won silver medals, while those that included Gong and Na each won bronze.

In the Earth System Project, the team that included Na won a gold medal, while the team that included Gong took silver.

Park Young-shin, head of the Korean Earth Science Olympiad Committee delegation, said nurturing talent in the earth sciences is more important than ever as the world grapples with the climate crisis. "I hope this competition experience serves as a springboard for these students to grow into world-class leaders in the field of earth science," Park said.

Meanwhile, the South Korean delegation is set to compete next in international science olympiads in astronomy and astrophysics and in middle-school science.