The Korean participants in the 1st International Earth Science Olympiad pose at the prize awarding ceremony held in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Provincc, Monday. They are, from left, Kim Hak-rae, Kang Seong-keun, Kang Im-seok and Jeong Min-gu. / Courtesy of the Korean Earth Science Society

By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter


The nation’s young prodigies in science won an outstanding achievement award in an international science competition.

The Korean national team of four students excelling in earth science took second place with one gold and three silver medals at the 1st International Earth Science Olympiad, which ran from Oct. 7 to 15 in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province, and Yeongwol, Gangwon Province.

The Korean Earth Science Society hosted the competition. Kim Hak-rae from Jawoon High School won the gold medal in the competition, which is composed of writing and practical tests.

Kang Seong-keun from Yangchung High School, Kang Im-seok and Jeong Min-gu, both from the Korea Science Academy, won silver medals.

Taiwan won the championship with three golds and one silver medal. The third place was taken by the U.S., which secured two silvers and two bronze medals.

More than 100 students and professors from 11 countries participated. Countries participating were the U.S., India, Nepal, Taiwan, Japan, Israel, Mongolia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Nigeria.

The next annual competition will be held in the Philippines in September 2008.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr