IESO 2026 NATIONAL SELECTION COMPLETED

All the participants of the selection were winners and prize-holders of national and specialized Olympiads. The round was organized by the Zhas Geolog Corporate Foundation. The competition was held with the participation of the School of Mining and Geosciences at Nazarbayev University. Both stages of the competition were conducted in an offline format at this educational institution.

The first stage of the competition consisted of a written test on key areas of Earth sciences. The second stage included a practical assignment – geological mapping, rock identification – and an oral interview in English. Three professors from NU posed questions on various Earth sciences topics. The high school students had to answer orally without prior preparation. Aigerim Sultan, Program Manager and representative of the Yessenov Foundation, also took part in the selection process.

Four high school students emerged as winners and became members of Kazakhstan’s national team for IESO 2026. Let us introduce them to you.

Amir Darynov, 17, a student at the Bilim-Innovation Lyceum in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Beyond his academic pursuits, he enjoys football and calisthenics. Amir also teaches olympiad-level geography to younger students. In the summer of 2025, he participated in scientific research in the field of environmental conservation biology as part of the Pioneer Academics program.

“Among the Earth sciences, my favorites are geography and ecology. It is these subjects that allow for a deeper understanding of the interconnections between natural processes and human impact on the environment. The selection round was not difficult. It was interesting to identify minerals using different methods. I think the tasks at IESO will also be fascinating, because Italy’s geological history is very rich. I am really looking forward to meeting young geologists from other countries,” Amir shares with us.

Nuriya Mukhanbetali is a 10th-grade student at the Bilim-Innovation boarding lyceum in Karaganda. She is 15 years old and comes from Zhezkazgan. Nuriya studies geography in depth and is a two-time gold medalist of the national olympiad in the subject. She completed a five-year music program with honors, specializing in the zhetygen. Nuriya is also active in sports, training with her brother and planning to take up taekwondo. Additionally, she has an interest in economics and the stock market.

“I felt confident during the first round, but in the second, I was a bit nervous as I encountered some unfamiliar terms. It was only the practical part with rock and mineral samples that helped me calm down. During the interview, I was naturally worried about my English, but I managed to stay focused. I expect the tasks at the olympiad in Turin to be quite challenging. I hope to make friends with participants from other countries there. I believe we will return to Kazakhstan with medals,” Nuriya says.

Sara Mukhtarkhanova, 17, is another student from the Bilim-Innovation network, studying in Astana. She has been interested in geography since 7th grade. Like Nuriya, she is drawn to the subject. Sara’s portfolio includes a bronze medal from the national olympiad in 9th grade and a silver medal in 10th grade.

The fourth member of Kazakhstan’s IESO 2026 team is from Pavlodar. Mansur Tursungaliyev is a 12th-grade student at the Nazarbayev Intellectual School. Among Earth sciences, he has a particular affinity for meteorology, geology, and oceanography.

“They allow for a deeper understanding of our planet – its origins and the processes that shape its unique landscapes. I’m also interested in studying Kazakhstan’s mineral resources: how they are formed and how they can be utilized,” Mansur tells us.

These are the students who will represent Kazakhstan at IESO 2026 in Turin, Italy, from August 20 to 27, 2026. Until then, the high schoolers will undergo intensive training with teachers and professors at the Nazarbayev University School of Mining and Geosciences to ensure they arrive in Italy fully prepared.

The Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation, the general sponsor of Kazakhstan’s national team at IESO 2026, has been supporting the country’s students at this international olympiad since 2017. Last year, the Kazakhstani team brought home 7 medals, including gold. The Foundation covers the team’s organizational fee, visas, travel expenses, and provides both national costumes for cultural events and uniforms for official IESO ceremonies. The range of sciences covered by the olympiad includes geology, astronomy, oceanography, meteorology, and ecology.