The German team won eight silver and three bronze medals at the 2026 International Earth Science Olympiad in Turin. Four of the students, who had previously trained at KIT, represented Germany in the competition. The Dr. Hartwig Blume Foundation made the training camp in Karlsruhe possible.
Eleven Medals for the German Team at the Geoscience Olympiad
Knowledge of Earth sciences helps us understand complex issues related to climate, water, energy, and natural resources. The International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) therefore brings together highly qualified students from various countries. At the 19th edition, held August 20–27, 2026, in Turin, the German team won a total of eight silver and three bronze medals.
The team included Kou Jinrui and Hagen Esch from Baden-Württemberg, Jannes Pfeiffer from Thuringia, and Eric Otto from Saxony. They had previously qualified for the international competition through the German Earth Science Olympiad.
From June 28 to July 2, 2026, the top ten participants in the German Geosciences Olympiad gathered for a training camp at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The German Geosciences Federation and KIT had invited them to Karlsruhe. Specialized lectures, lab and fieldwork, and excursions deepened their knowledge in areas such as geophysics, tectonics, seismology, volcanology, and paleontology. The program also included the geology of the Alps and the Po Valley, as well as scientific discussions in English.
The Dr. Hartwig Blume Foundation in Hamburg made the camp possible. Foundation board member Mr. Grütters visited the young talents during their stay at KIT and learned about the program firsthand. Prof. Dr. Schilling and Dr. Müller from the Institute of Applied Geosciences contributed their technical expertise. Mr. Gauß and the Science Camp team from the Center for Technology-Enhanced Learning organized and supervised the training camp, which was carried out in cooperation with the KIT Foundation.
Part of the competition took place in internationally diverse teams. In addition to subject-matter expertise, this required collaboration and scientific exchange across language and national boundaries. This approach reflects the interdisciplinary and international nature of modern earth sciences.
The next German Earth Science Olympiad will begin in November 2026. It is open to high school students and also serves as the national qualifying competition for the next International Earth Science Olympiad. KIT welcomes sponsors who would like to support the upcoming German Earth Science Olympiad and the preparation of young talent. Please feel free to contact us.
