This is the script for an interview after I represented China participating in the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO). In it, I share moments that shaped my journey — from the thrill of competition and cross-cultural collaboration, to my growing love for Earth science and dreams for the future. I hope it offers insight, inspiration, and encouragement to future IESO participants, and to all who find joy in learning about our planet and beyond.

1. Reflections on the IESO Experience

(What left the deepest impression during the competition?)

As Mr. Nir Orion said at the opening ceremony — “Enjoy the Journey” — participating in the International Earth Science Olympiad was truly an unforgettable journey of a lifetime.

Throughout this journey, we fully immersed ourselves in the exhilaration of the Data Mining Test. From the biodiversity of the Panarea Islands to the eruption of Mount St. Helens, from the uplift of the Himalayas to the orbit of asteroid Hack8558 across distant background galaxies, we found ourselves in conversation with mountains and rivers, stars and seas — probing the mechanisms that govern Earth and the cosmos, and contemplating the fate of all living things on this planet.

I’ll never forget presenting at 3 a.m. during the National Team Field Investigation, where we traced the billion-year history of the Huyu strata, reconstructed ancient riverbeds, and analyzed the potential social impact of geological hazards. We presented our practical skills and critical thinking with clarity and confidence — and ultimately won two gold medals for our country.

What touched me most throughout the competition was the spirit of collaboration among both domestic and international teammates. While preparing for the Art and Science project, my teammates and I wandered freely through a torrent of inspiration, telling stories of science and passion through art and creativity. The ESP, in contrast, was a resonance of souls across latitudes. The moment we turned on our cameras and smiled at one another, our fears of cultural difference and language barriers began to fade. Our shared love and reverence for nature gave rise to endless topics — and I came to understand that science belongs to the world.

And, of course, I was also captivated by the intensity and thrill of competition itself. It was the plagioclase that haunted my dreams. It was the sunrises I witnessed between Nanjing and Beijing. It was the many moments of frustration, breakthrough, and satisfaction while wrangling with remote sensing data. It was the pounding heart at the awards ceremony.

Two golds, one silver, one bronze — these medals were the most tangible gifts of this journey. But more than that, the real gift was the privilege of walking alongside like-minded friends, of thinking like an Earth scientist, and of explaining the vastness of Earth and sky in my own voice.

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2. A Growing Passion for Earth Science

(When did you first become interested in Earth science? How did your learning journey unfold?)

My love for Earth science developed gradually, almost unconsciously. It was there in the illustrations of encyclopedias I used to pore over; in the fossil specimens that kept me lingering in museums; in the ever-changing skies outside my window; in the scenery I never wanted to part with on my travels. Growing up in a city, I yearned for nature — to draw close to it, to understand it. I was moved by the vastness of open skies and wild plains, eager to encounter mountains and oceans, stars and storms, and to listen, with awe, to the stories they told.

The Earth Science Olympiad gave me the perfect platform to learn and explore — to see the world through a scientific lens. This year marked my school’s first attempt at the domestic Earth science selection competition, so resources and training were limited. Building upon my high school geography studies, I began teaching myself from university textbooks and online lectures, building a knowledge framework aligned with the Olympiad syllabus. I also compiled my own topic-based question bank to reinforce what I’d learned.

But preparing for the Olympiad isn’t just about reading — it’s also about moving. I remember going to museums with classmates to identify fossils, listening to friends from the Biology Olympiad explain evolutionary history. I remember arguing about weather systems on chilly days, standing in the playground debating wind direction and cloud types. I remember the many solitary nights of preparation, gazing at the moon outside my window and finding myself calculating azimuths and lunar phases.

The deeper I delved, the more I was drawn in by the intricacies of Earth science — and the prouder I felt to be able to explain the world around me in my own words. Through study and competition, I came to see science in three dimensions: through its experiments and tools, like those used in planetary science; through systems like atmospheric chaos theory; through geophysical methods of observation, modeling, and inversion.

I also began to understand that science is not just the printed text in textbooks — it is a living, evolving process. Plate tectonics, a theory we now take for granted, once faced resistance when it challenged geosyncline theory. It was only after breakthroughs across continental geology, marine geology, and geophysics that it gained broad acceptance — and it continues to evolve today.

The international competition also gave me insight into Earth science methodologies. I learned to use geographic information tools and began building a way of thinking grounded in Earth system interactions — feedbacks, constraints, co-dependencies — enabling me to observe and analyze real-world problems more comprehensively.

Above all, I found joy in learning itself. Among all subjects, planetary science and astronomy moved me the most. I remember visiting the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where Professor Yang Wei said, “The future of Earth science lies in planetary science.” Humanity has long contemplated the stars. We’ve lingered long enough at the edge of the sea of stars — it is time to sail.

Whether we seek to understand cosmic mechanisms, locate new resources, or find new homes, these are steps we are destined to take. And after glimpsing the workings of distant worlds, looking back at Earth brings a profound new emotion. In one quiet corner of a spiral galaxy, matter evolved into life — into awareness. Forged from stardust, we now gaze at the stars. Filled with passion and wonder, we begin the long journey home.

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3. Hopes for the Future

(What do you hope to study in university? What are your research or career aspirations?)

I plan to study geography and pursue scientific research in this field. Geography, as a spatial science, seeks to understand the dynamics of Earth systems and their interconnections. At the same time, it reveals the challenges humans face in a changing world. It grounds the principles of natural science and provides a dynamic, integrative perspective for addressing social problems.

This discipline’s breadth and inclusivity deeply appeal to me. It allows one to identify real-world issues, abstract patterns from them, analyze underlying mechanisms, and propose meaningful solutions. It demands both deep thinking and broad connections, and it invites field-based exploration. Geography makes me feel like more than a student being trained — it makes me feel like a thinker, a solver of real-world challenges.

In the future, I hope to continue expanding my knowledge in both natural and social sciences, to explore the intricate workings of society and nature, and to better understand the relationship between people and the Earth. I hope to contribute to solving pressing global issues such as climate change, energy security, and environmental degradation.

I also hope to master geographic information technologies and learn how to process and analyze complex data using new tools — to become a geographer who is passionate and meticulous, bold yet precise.

I may not yet know exactly what industry I’ll work in — perhaps academia, perhaps science communication — but one thing is certain: I will always carry a sense of awe and curiosity for the natural world. I will always bear the responsibility of protecting Earth and humanity.

As Carl Sagan, whom I admire deeply, once wrote in Cosmos: “We are a way for the cosmos to know itself. We have begun to contemplate our origins: starstuff pondering the stars… We are loyal to the Earth and its life. We speak for Earth. Our obligation to survive is owed not just to ourselves but also to that Cosmos, ancient and vast, from which we sprang.”

4. Advice for Future IESO Participants

(What advice and encouragement would you offer to future participants?)

At its core, competition tests the boundaries of your knowledge. Expanding your academic horizons is thus the most fundamental part of your Olympiad journey. Since Earth science isn’t taught in most school curricula, it’s essential to construct your own understanding of the subject.

But expanding knowledge isn’t just about memorization — it’s about building a framework. Learn the core ideas of each subdiscipline and understand the logical or hierarchical relationships between them. This systematic approach will help you connect ideas across topics, making your learning more intuitive and flexible.

In parallel, practicing past questions — sufficiently and appropriately — is key. Practice is the best way to reinforce your knowledge. Use previous national and international Olympiad problems as a resource. Search for answers using textbooks and credible sources. If you have friends (even online) who are preparing too, don’t hesitate to discuss problems together. You’ll learn a lot from each other, and the friendships forged in this shared journey will become some of your most cherished memories.

Finally, even with solid knowledge, you need inner strength to carry you through. This is a journey full of challenges — and when the road gets tough, I urge you to be brave. Stay rational, stay curious. Think like an Earth scientist. Face the difficulty head-on, keep asking, keep exploring.

I hope you achieve the results you dream of. But more importantly, I hope you embrace the growth and challenge this experience brings — and carry your love for Earth science onward, toward the road ahead.