Taiwan high schooler finishes 2nd at Int'l Earth Science Olympiad

Taipei, Aug. 28 (CNA) Taichung Municipal Taichung First Senior High School student Wang Yi-cheng (王翌澄) finished second overall at the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) in Turin, Italy, with Taiwan's delegation ranking third among 41 countries, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said Friday.

The four-member delegation earned two gold and two silver medals, with the students scoring within the respective medal ranges across individual and team events, according to the MOE.

The individual events included four theoretical exams in English covering geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, terrestrial astronomy and environmental science, as well as four laboratory tests of participants' ability to use scientific equipment.

The team events, meanwhile, comprised the International Team Field Investigation and Earth Science Project exercises.

In addition to Wang, Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Senior High School's Shih Tzu-hung (施子閎) also earned a gold medal, finishing sixth overall.

Silver medals were earned by Liu Hsin-tse (劉信澤) of National Experimental High School at Hsinchu Science Park, who placed 20th, and National Tainan First Senior High School's Huang Ting-yu (黃鼎祐), who finished 27th.

The four students beat out 520 applicants from 95 schools to represent Taiwan and received training from 10 of the country's top Earth science academics before departing for Turin.

According to the MOE, Wang, Huang and Liu are avid lovers of astronomy, while Shih was drawn to Earth science by his fascination with typhoons.

In accordance with regulations recognizing achievements in international academic competitions, all four students will be guaranteed admission to science, engineering, medicine and agriculture programs at a Taiwanese university of their choice.

Additionally, Wang and Shih will each receive scholarship funds worth NT$200,000 (US$6,332), with Liu and Huang each receiving NT$100,000.