Geology students from Zabaicali participate in the Olympiad in Mongolia
In a unique collaboration, young geologists from Russia and Mongolia recently participated in the first Russia-Mongolia Olympiad for Geology, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Although there is no widely publicized, continuously recurring international event known specifically as the "Russia-Mongolia Olympiad for young geologists," both countries have a history of organising science and geology-related youth competitions and Olympiads.
The Olympiad, which took place alongside national events such as the Naadam Festival and other academic competitions, consisted of eight practical tasks that simulated the work of professional geologists. The tasks were designed to test the participants' knowledge of safety rules, first aid skills, and their ability to apply their geological knowledge in real-world scenarios.
The competition began with a written test covering general geology, mineralogy, paleontology, stratigraphy, and Earth science fundamentals. Students then moved on to fieldwork, where they identified rocks, minerals, and fossils, interpreted geological maps and cross-sections, and solved geological puzzles based on real or simulated data.
Laboratory tasks such as mineral or rock identification, fossil examination, and data analysis followed, as well as team challenges that simulated resource exploration or environmental assessment scenarios. The final stage of the Olympiad was an oral presentation, where students presented their findings and defended their solutions to a panel, sometimes in both native and foreign languages to encourage broader communication skills.
The third task of the Olympiad was a geological route, requiring students to navigate the terrain, create a topographic map, and collect samples of rock according to a given plan. Russia was represented by young geologists from Buryatia, Zabaykalsky Krai, Kemerovo, Tomsk, and Irkutsk regions, while Mongolia was represented by five teams from Ulaanbaatar.
Participants were also required to set up a field camp, which included pitching a tent, starting a fire, and preparing water for boiling. The fourth stage of the Olympiad involved hydrological research, including measurements and calculations on a river. During the alluvial sampling task, students demonstrated their ability to work with a gold pan and take samples.
The Russia-Mongolia Olympiad lasted for three days, and the results, along with the winner's name, will be announced on July 4. This exciting event marks a significant step in fostering international collaboration and encouraging young minds to pursue careers in geosciences.
During the Olympiad, participants were challenged to demonstrate their knowledge not only in geological sciences but also in environmental-science, including tasks like hydrological research and alluvial sampling. The event also promoted education-and-self-development through team challenges that required problem-solving and communication skills, sometimes in multiple languages.
