IESO 2025: KAZAKHSTAN WINS 7 MEDALS

“This was a record year for our national team. We have brought home medals before, but for the first time ever, we have won gold and earned awards in every category of the competition. Alina Aitzhanova, Nadira Atymtai, Akzhol Bolat, and Alnur Tursunkhanov won medals in all competition categories. In one of the categories – the scientific Earth Systems Project – Alina and Alnur claimed gold, while Bolat brought his team a bronze. In the international field team investigation Nadira, Alnur, and Akzhol were awarded bronze medals. For the theoretical and practical tests, which included questions on all Earth sciences, Bolat received a bronze medal at IESO 2025,” shared Zhanat Ismailova, the team’s chaperone and Director of the Zhas Geolog Corporate Foundation, which organized the national selection and training of the team.

In total, Kazakhstani schoolchildren won 7 medals: 2 gold and 5 bronze. Meet the winners of IESO 2025. All schoolchildren were selected through a nationwide selection process earlier this year, and in the months leading up to the Olympiad they underwent intensive training under the guidance of professors and graduate students from Nazarbayev University. All four of them study at different schools within the NIS system and are fluent in English, since it is the official language of the IESO.

Akzhol Bolat, 18, is from Taldykorgan. He is so passionate about Earth sciences that after finishing 12th grade, he is enrolling in the School of Mining and Geosciences at Nazarbayev University. “At the Olympiad, I managed to win a bronze medal in the individual competition. Besides geology, I’m also interested in geography and classical literature. Participating in the International Earth Science Olympiad was an important event and a unique experience for me. The format was very different from the competitions I’m used to – more intense and focused on teamwork. Eastern China greeted us with heat and humidity – spending entire days on our feet in such conditions was a real challenge. But it’s precisely such moments that you remember. I want to thank everyone who made this trip possible: our teachers, mentors, and the Shakhmardan Yessenov Science and Education Foundation, who supported us,” said Akzhol.

Alina Aitzhanova, 18, from Astana, is a recent graduate. She is a member of a geology club, participates in Model United Nations debates, practices ballroom dancing, and plays the piano. This summer, as part of a team, she took 2nd place in the Republican Field Olympiad for Young Geologists. “The IESO was absolutely amazing! So many exciting events, activities, and fascinating competitions. Two out of the three competition stages were team-based: the participants were divided into international groups. I ended up on a team with peers from Sri Lanka, Italy, Chile, and the USA. We won a gold medal. We also explored the area, collected samples of water, rocks, and soil, conducted laboratory analysis, and presented the results. Our group’s topic was the causes and intensity of weathering in the Yangshan GeoPark region. In our free time, we went to the swimming pool, played badminton, and socialized. We were fortunate to visit Nishan Sacred Land – the birthplace of Confucius. We learned a lot about the philosopher, his teachings, and his significance for world culture. This Olympiad gave me not only invaluable experience but also many new friends from different countries. I even learned some basic phrases in Spanish and German,” shared Alina.

Nadira Atymtai, 17, is from Kyzylorda. She has been practicing taekwondo for many years, enjoys running, and is a winner of the NASA Space Apps Challenge and Infomatrix. She is also an active volunteer. “The Olympiad was interesting and eventful. In one of the team tasks, I ended up in a group with peers from Belarus, Germany, Thailand, Macau, and Finland…  We worked together excellently and won a bronze medal. I was especially impressed by the practical part of the Olympiad – the field trip to the mountains and the geological park, where we conducted on-site research. For me, IESO was one of the highlights of this eventful summer. Before this, I was engaged in astrophysics research in the U.S. through the SSP (Summer Science Program). I also gained experience at a startup focused on solving environmental problems – this was during a competition in Turkey,” said Nadira.

Alnur Tursunkhanov, 16, is a student based in the capital. He strives to stay active through sports in his free time Alongside his interest in geography and geology, he participates in debates and is passionate about tennis. “The Olympiad was fantastic, and China gave us an excellent welcome. We won a gold medal for creating an innovative project and successfully presented it to an international jury from the USA, India, Germany, China, and France,” shared Alnur.

The 18th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) 2025 was held from August 7 to 17 in Ji’ning, China. The next IESO will take place in 2026 in Turin, Italy. Since 2017, the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation has been sponsoring Kazakhstan’s national team for the IESO.