The Czech national team achieved an extraordinary triumph at the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO 2025), a prestigious competition for high school students from around the world. The event, held in Jining, China, from August 7 to 17, 2025, tested both theoretical knowledge and practical skills across disciplines such as geology, hydrology, climatology, astronomy, and environmental science. In addition, the competition evaluated research capabilities and teamwork.
The Czech team consisted of two mentors—team leader Associate Professor RNDr. Rostislav Melichar, Ph.D., and Mgr. Kateřina Zachovalová, Ph.D.—and four students: Martin Černý (Gymnázium Teplice), Tomáš Kohoutek (Gymnázium Říčany), Jan Lahoda (Gymnázium Jihlava), and Prokop Šťastný (Gymnázium Uherské Hradiště). These young science enthusiasts earned a total of eight medals across several competition categories: one gold, six silver, and one bronze.
“This year’s edition of the International Earth Science Olympiad was exceptionally demanding, as top teams from around the world gathered in Jining, making the competition very tough. That makes the achievements of the Czech team all the more joyous and a proud moment, as these results rank among the best in our history at this prestigious contest. They represent not only the inspiring and dedicated work of natural science teachers but also the extraordinary enthusiasm, talent, and persistent effort of the students themselves,” said Rostislav Melichar, team leader and researcher at the Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University.
This outstanding result confirms the strong interest of young people in Earth sciences and the fate of our planet. The Geology Olympiad—a national competition organized long-term by Masaryk University in cooperation with the Czech Geological Survey and the Association of Museums and Galleries of the Czech Republic—plays a significant role in motivating, selecting, and professionally developing these students. The Geology Olympiad discovers talented students, supports their interest in geosciences, and opens the path for their further professional growth, international comparison, and collaboration, thereby contributing to the prestige of Czech science on the global stage.
Photo: Archive of the Department of Geological Sciences, MUNI SCI
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