Kapurthala boy on a medal-winning spree in China

Charuvrat Bains, a Class IX student from Kapurthala, recently represented India at the 18th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO 2025) in China (7–17 Aug) and made the country proud by winning three medals. In an interaction he shares his journey to global acclaim. Excerpts:

What inspired your deep interest in Earth Sciences?

I have always felt a deep connect with Nature and been fascinated by its numerous manifestations in the shape of various landforms. I have always been curious to know more about their evolution, development and future course of existence. So, when I came to know about the Earth Science Olympiad, it was a natural decision for me to take a shot at it.

How did you balance school studies with the demanding preparation for the Olympiad?

I sincerely believe that my success at the Olympiad could not have materialised without the support and motivation of my parents, teachers and mentors at Allen. My parents not only backed my decision to pursue the Olympiad, but also chipped in by providing the relevant study material. My mother has always motivated me since the beginning, from celebrating every small victory, like it was a world championship to reminding me, when things didn’t go my way, that failure is nothing more than a stepping stone to success. My school teachers encouraged me to prepare well, and not worry about classroom studies, which was a huge support. My mentors at Allen Online helped me immensely by providing relevant study material and clear all my doubts.

What was your most memorable experience from the event in China?

The most unforgettable moment was when it was announced that I had won three medals in all three categories. I dedicate my success to my Late grandmother, who always inspired me to hold education and learning in high esteem.

You won three medals, including two silvers, which one feels the most special to you, and what does it mean personally?

While all three medals are special, the Silver in the Earth Systems Project (ESP) means the most to me. I pitched the idea to research my country’s geology, shared knowledge with my multinational team, and guided the group, realising my leadership potential even within a collaborative project.

What challenges did you face during the Olympiad, and how did you push yourself to overcome them?

Earth Sciences is a non-conventional field of learning, and there is little of it in the school curriculum. So, the biggest challenge was to arrange for relevant study material, pertinent to the format of the Olympiad. Thankfully, my mentors helped me to gather all the relevant study material which immensely helped me prepare and also arranged online interaction with past medallists, which helped me gain first-hand experiences and insights which turned out to be extremely valuable.

Looking ahead, what are your future academic and career aspirations?

Given the fast-evolving frontiers of Science and Technology, I am keeping my options of academic career open. There is so much to learn and explore, that to be fixated on one option would be a self-limiting approach. But certainly, driven by my passion for learning new things, I would like to explore my career in the field of research.

A word of advice

To all young minds willing to participate in national events, I would say that work hard, think big and aim high! Nothing is impossible, if you truly put your mind to it.