Malaysia Wins Seven Medals at the 2024 International Earth Science Olympiad
By Subaashinee Kupusamy,
9 SEPTEMBER: Malaysia’s team made an impressive showing at the 17th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) held in Beijing from August 7 to 17, 2024. The competition, renowned for its rigorous evaluation of secondary school students’ knowledge in Earth sciences, saw Malaysia bringing home seven medals.
The IESO is a prestigious annual event organized by the International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO), focusing on geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, environmental science, and terrestrial astronomy. This year’s theme, “Big Data for Our Earth,” highlighted the importance of leveraging vast data for Earth science understanding.
Malaysia’s team competed against 132 participants from 35 nations across three main events: Individual Tests, the Earth Systems Project (ESP), and the International Team Field Investigation (ITFI). The Individual Tests included theoretical and practical assessments. Muhammad Syarif bin Mohd Shariful Azwan from the National Gifted Centre earned a Bronze Medal in this category.
In the ESP, which promotes international collaboration, Malaysia excelled with Nur Adryana Aisya Binti Abdul Shukor securing a Gold Medal, Lee Kai Zhe winning Silver, and Muhammad Syarif also earning a Bronze Medal. The team’s achievements in ESP demonstrated their ability to work effectively in diverse teams on complex topics like planetary habitability.
The ITFI, requiring real-world research and presentation, saw Malaysia achieving three Bronze Medals through Cheong Kar Hin, Lee Kai Zhe, and Muhammad Syarif. Despite challenges, their perseverance and skill were evident.
The success at this year’s IESO marks a return to in-person participation after years of virtual events due to COVID-19. The Malaysian Earth Science Olympiad team’s achievements are attributed to the dedicated efforts of coaches, mentors, and Ardent Educational Consultants, who play a crucial role in preparing students for such prestigious competitions as stated in Malaysia Kini.
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