Cheng Kai-hung of National Tainan First Senior High School earned gold and third in the individual rankings. Hsu Yao-ting and Liu An-jun from Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School, as well as Chou Hsing-hung from Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University, took silver and finished 10th, 14th and 16th, respectively.
Chou also won second in conducting team field observations and Hsu followed suit for earth system projects.
“This year’s IESO examined students on their comprehensive knowledge of the integrated subjects of astronomy, geology, meteorology and oceanography,” said Lin Pay-liam, a professor at National Central University and leader of the Taiwan team.
“Such an approach requires students to excel in critical thinking and problem solving. The stellar results are testament to our students’ advanced development in this regard.”
The MOE said Taiwan’s gold and silver winners will be awarded NT$200,000 (US$6,174) and NT$100,000, respectively, and admitted to relevant university departments without examination.
Founded in 2007 by International Geoscience Education Organization, IESO is dedicated to expanding earth science learning and enhancing public awareness of the field. The competition for secondary school students consists of theoretical and practical examinations, with the former presented as a set of earth science problems and the latter experimental tasks.
The event, staged Sept. 13-20 in Pocos de Caldas, involved 86 students from 23 member and five observer countries. Taiwan has accumulated 25 gold and 11 silver medals to date. (YHC-JSM)
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