Ahmadabad: His impeccable knowledge in earth sciences, identifying different types of rocks with an ease and skills in using GPS and reading maps won 14-year-old Sharad Mirani from Ahmedabad the maiden bronze medal in the global scientific competition International Earth Science Olympiads (IESO) in Taiwan. Sharad was part of the four-member team representing India at IESO, an annual competition for secondary school students. It tests their abilities in disciplines like geology, meteorology, environmental science and terrestrial astronomy.

After winning the award, Sharad says, "It was a great experience for me competing with participants from across the globe. We went through different theoretical and practical tests on the knowledge of rocks, field investigation among other activities." About 18 countries including Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Sir Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, USA and 3 observing teams from Argentina, France, and Ukraine participated in this world competition.

Sharad aspires to be an astrophysicist, says his father Chandrakant Mirani. The IESO 2009 was organized from September 14 to September 22 on the theme of environment. Sharad, a student of Prakash Higher Secondary School also carried a Basalt rock from Gujarat to Taiwan which will be apart of the monument to be constructed remembering the global competition.

Senior scientist at Gujarat Science City, Narottam Sahoo said, "Sharad is the first student in the state to achieve such prestigious honour and recognition at the International Science Olympiads. His award will inspire and encourage who are preparing for the for the next IESO 2010 to be held in Indonesia."

source:TOI