Students of the Faddeev Academic Gymnasium at St Petersburg University win at the European Geography Olympiad for school students

Apart from the competition, school students took part in the contest of scientific posters and cultural presentations.

Elena Agapova, a student of the 11th grade at the Faddeev Academic Gymnasium at St Petersburg University, won the Olympiad and was awarded a gold medal as part of the main team. Fedor Denisov, a student of the 10th grade at the Faddeev Academic Gymnasium, was awarded a bronze medal as part of the guest team.

Elena Agapova shared her impressions of taking part in the Olympiad. She noted that the tasks had not focused on one particular topic. However, there was definitely more physical geography rather than social and economic geography.

The European Geography Olympiad has been held since 2015. In 2021, several Olympiads were united under the same name including the Balkan Olympiad and the Olympiad of the Eastern European countries. The competition is aimed at fostering interest to geographical research and emphasising the importance of geography as a science among the youth.

At the Olympiad, Russia was represented by the main team and the guest team of eight members each and five students on the junior team.

‘Fedor Denisov, another participant from the Faddeev Academic Gymnasium, and I study in different cohorts, so it can safely be said that it is not just one "advanced group" of students. However, we have the same teachers of geography: Natalia Maslakova and Svetlana Militsina. The knowledge that was shared with us at the lessons served us well at the Olympiad. This is because we don’t just follow the textbook, but also study the material outside the school curriculum, which is extremely useful for the Olympiads. Knowing how geography is taught in other schools, it can be stated with confidence that our Gymnasium has one of the best programmes in geography in Russia,’ shared Elena Agapova, the winner of the Olympiad.

In 2021, Elena Agapova was awarded a silver medal successfully demonstrating knowledge in geography as part of the team from Russia at the Olympiad in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Answering the question what else the Academic Gymnasium provides besides knowledge, Elena Agapova mentioned practical work at the student facility after the 10th grade. In the course of this practical work, many students can decide if they want to study geography at the university. A geographer will need many skills like manipulating a theodolite and a gradient meter, determining geologic materials, working waist deep in water in case of hydrological activity not only during the studies, but also later at work.

‘The Olympiads helped me to become more stress resistant and learn large amounts of information within short periods of time. I believe this skill will come in handy further down the road. I’m not sure about my plans in terms of entering the university yet. I still have about a month to consider my options,’ shared Elena Agapova.