United States Earth Science Olympiad (USESO)

The United States Earth Science Olympiad (USESO) is the national programme that selects the U.S. team for the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO). Students take an online National Open Exam covering geology, meteorology/oceanography and terrestrial astronomy; the highest scorers are invited to a residential Training Camp. The top four performers from Training Camp form the U.S. Earth Science Team that competes at IESO.

Invitation to a residential Training Camp; potential selection as one of four members of the U.S. Earth Science Team to compete at IESO.

Any middle or high school student may take the National Open Exam. Training Camp is limited to high schoolers who permanently reside in the U.S.; score cutoffs by grade apply (75+ in grades 9–12, 65+ in grades 7–8, 55+ in grades 2–6).

Register on the USESO website when registration opens (around January) to sit the teacher-proctored online National Open Exam held in spring. Top scorers receive Training Camp invitations.