--- title: "Indonesian students earn 12 Earth Science Olympiad medals" canonical: https://smallgoodthings.org/stories/indonesia-earth-science-olympiad-medals-2026/ sourceName: "Indonesia Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education" sourceUrl: "https://bbpmpjabar.kemendikdasmen.go.id/pembinaan-kemendikdasmen-antarkan-murid-indonesia-raih-12-medali-dan-tiga-penghargaan-yori-pada-ieso-2026/" datePublished: 2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z dateModified: 2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z --- # Indonesian students earn 12 Earth Science Olympiad medals Indonesia’s four-member team earned 12 medals across individual and team events at the 2026 International Earth Science Olympiad. The education ministry also reported three Young Reporters Initiative prizes. ## What is the background? Earth science brings together questions about rocks, water, weather and the changing environment. Its student competitions can reward observation and explanation alongside examination performance. Italy’s environmental research institute, [ISPRA](https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/attivita/museo/calendario-eventi/2026/19a-international-earth-science-olympiad-ieso-2026), describes the Turin event as a meeting of national selection winners. The programme covered geology, geophysics, mineralogy, hydrogeology, palaeontology and environmental science. Around 160 students from 40 countries were expected at the gathering, held August 20–27. ## What happened? Indonesia’s education ministry reported a combined medal tally of one gold, four silver and seven bronze. The team also received first, second and third prizes in the Young Reporters Initiative. The four students represented schools in Pontianak, Malang and Serpong. Their achievements spanned individual examinations, international field investigation and Earth-system projects. ## How did it happen? The [ministry’s account](https://bbpmpjabar.kemendikdasmen.go.id/pembinaan-kemendikdasmen-antarkan-murid-indonesia-raih-12-medali-dan-tiga-penghargaan-yori-pada-ieso-2026/) connects their preparation to Puspresnas, the national achievement centre, following national science selection. There is a useful educational distinction here. An individual examination asks what a student can solve alone. A shared investigation also asks whether students can compare observations and explain a conclusion together. Recognising both creates a fuller picture of accomplishment than a single medal table can offer. ## Why does it matter? The result gives Indonesian readers specific achievements to celebrate. For teachers, the range of formats also offers an accessible starting point for classroom discussion. A school activity could pair a written explanation with a small field observation and a presentation. That is an editorial suggestion inspired by the competition’s structure, rather than a claim about a newly announced programme. Science communication deserves attention alongside technical answers. Explaining what evidence supports a conclusion helps other people examine it, question it and learn from it. ## What were the key results? - One gold medal across the competition formats. - Four silver medals. - Seven bronze medals. - A four-student Indonesian delegation. - Three separate science reporting prizes. - Participation in both individual and collaborative events. ## What happens next? The immediate achievement is the completed competition. The reports do not establish later scholarships, research appointments or career outcomes for these students. Readers can explore more [education stories](/category/education/) or compare this result with [Pakistan’s Nuclear Science Olympiad success](/stories/pakistan-nuclear-science-olympiad-medals-2026/). Both offer a way into discussing how young people develop specialist interests, without treating a competition result as a measure of an entire school system. ## Reporting notes Results come from the ministry’s September 4 statement, posted September 5. The total combines several competition formats; it is not 12 individual-test medals. ISPRA provides separate event context. ## Sources - [Indonesia education ministry · September 4, 2026](https://bbpmpjabar.kemendikdasmen.go.id/pembinaan-kemendikdasmen-antarkan-murid-indonesia-raih-12-medali-dan-tiga-penghargaan-yori-pada-ieso-2026/): Team results and the national preparation programme. - [ISPRA · IESO 2026 event information](https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/attivita/museo/calendario-eventi/2026/19a-international-earth-science-olympiad-ieso-2026): Italy’s environmental research institute describes the host city, scientific subjects and international participation. ## Common questions ### Were all the medals for individual examinations? No. The total includes individual tests and collaborative field and Earth-system projects. These formats recognise different scientific skills. ### What is the Young Reporters Initiative? It is the science reporting element mentioned in the ministry’s results. Its prizes are listed separately from the medal total. Primary source: [Indonesia Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education](https://bbpmpjabar.kemendikdasmen.go.id/pembinaan-kemendikdasmen-antarkan-murid-indonesia-raih-12-medali-dan-tiga-penghargaan-yori-pada-ieso-2026/)