The Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation has become the general sponsor of Kazakhstan's national team at the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO). The agreement was signed between Yessenov Foundation and the corporate fund "Zhas Geolog," which oversees the national selection process for the competition.
Team Selection
This year, IESO will be held in Turin, Italy, from August 20 to 27, 2026 — marking the 19th edition of the olympiad. The national selection drew nearly 100 applications from high school students in grades 9–11 representing cities across the country, including Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Aktau, Kyzylorda, and many more.
The selection process took place in Astana at Nazarbayev University and consisted of two rounds:
- February 28 — written testing across core disciplines, including geology, hydrology, oceanography, meteorology, astronomy, geography, and ecology
- March 1 — final round featuring an interview and a hands-on practical assignment
Participants were evaluated by Nazarbayev University professors alongside representatives from both foundations.
Foundation's Support
Yessenov Foundation is providing comprehensive support for the team, covering return flights for all participants and a chaperone, IESO registration fees, visa costs, as well as the production of matching team uniforms and national costumes for the olympiad's cultural program. Following the two-round selection, a team of four top-performing students will be chosen to represent Kazakhstan on the international stage in Turin.
Read more here.