A team of Kuwaiti teachers and students are representing the country and the Arab world in the 8th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) due to kick off in Spain on Monday.
Up to 200 students from 20 countries are taking part in the IESO, September 22-29.
The spectacular Palace of La Magdalena on the Peninsula of La Magdalena, at the eastern end of Santander city, will host the international contest. The agenda includes cultural visits to vital and unique sites in the area known for their biodiversity.
The 8th IESO is organized by the Complutense University of Madrid in cooperation with the International University of Menendez Pelayo and the Spanish Association for Earth Science Teaching. Participant countries include US, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine, France, India, Thailand, Germany, Austria, Norway, Italy and Brazil.
In 2010, the Kuwaiti girl student, Dalal Fahad, won the competition bronze medal, and in 2012, Zahraa Al-Herz won the 3rd place, competing 20 teams, while Abdulwahad Al-Hajji claimed the bronze medal for the country in the IESO 2012 in Argentina.
Students who win the respective national competitions are invited to participate in the significant event. All the main areas of earth sciences, including geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy, and environmental sciences, are considered as selecting topics for the competition.
The competition for each participant consists of theoretical and practical examinations as well as field work test. Besides that, an International Team Field Investigation (ITFI) will be arranged. Each team will consist of some students from different countries. Participants should work together during experimental and/or field tasks and will be graded together as a group