WHAT IS NEO?
NEO is an education and knowledge movement to mainstream earth and environmental science education in Bangladesh. NEO aims to educate, inspire, and nurture future scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to generate necessary knowledge and provide thought leadership for a more just, fair and sustainable Bangladesh and the world.
Who is eligible
All school/college students enrolled in classes 8 to 12 and private candidates of equivalent levels are eligible to participate. If anyone appears on the HSC exam but is not admitted into the University, he/she can participate in NEO.
THEME
Reimagining Science for Restoration of our Planetary Ecosystem
Bangladesh is a living delta shaped by rivers, sediments, culture, and a rich biodiversity. For centuries, its fertile floodplains, wetlands, forests, and river systems supported rich ecosystems and thriving communities. Today, however, visible fractures run through this delta: polluted rivers, degraded wetlands, declining biodiversity, contaminated water, toxic landfills, and communities pushed to the margins by environmental collapse. These are not isolated incidents. They are the outcome of decades of extractive and short-sighted development choices that have weakened the very ecological systems that once sustained life. Like all fault lines, its cracks need to be sealed through long-term social, political, and scientific movement.
This generation of young thinkers, builders, and leaders holds the potential to reimagine Bangladesh’s relationship with nature and development. By nurturing scientific understanding alongside environmental responsibility, the National Earth Olympiad (NEO) 2026 seeks to inspire a future in which learning directly contributes to ecological restoration and social well-being.
Join NEO 2026 and become part of a growing movement of young people using E-STEM to heal, restore, and renew our shared planet.
Why you should participate
- Learn what earth science is and how the natural systems of the earth function.
- Get hands-on experience in identifying geological landforms and climatic features.
- Learn about local and global environmental challenges.
- Develop your leadership skills and lead actions in your community and beyond.
- Get funding and mentorship for E-STEM Action Projects.
- Become a part of the nationwide network of 2800+ NEO Alumni.
- Opportunity to represent Bangladesh in the International Earth Science Olympiad 2026 in Italy.
The Journey of NEO 2026
REGISTRATION & PRELIMINARY ROUND
January 29 – March 25, 2026
Participants must answer 10 MCQs correctly out of a set of 20 MCQs to pass this round. The participants may retake this exam as many times as needed until March 25, 2026.
DIVISIONAL ROUNDS
April 3 – May 2, 2026
In-person exams will be held in all divisional cities. The exams will be approximately one hour long and will consist of 30-40 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
GREEN DAY TRAINING (GDT)
April 3 – May 2, 2026
A day-long in person workshop designed to introduce the participants to inter-connected environmental concerns and debates instils motivation to become problem solvers. Those who complete the workshop successfully in the GDT will be recognized as NEO alumni.
E-STEM Action Project
April – May 2026
The GDT participants will have the opportunity to submit project ideas that address environmental issues using E-STEM. The top ideas will receive seed funding and mentorship support for implementation.
NATIONAL ROUND
May 15, 2026
Divisional toppers will sit for the National Round. Top 30 participants will be selected for the Bangladesh National Team Selection Exam. National round will take place in the respective divisions.
Bangladesh National Team Selection Exam
June 5, 2026
Top 30 from the National Round will participate in this exam. 8-10 toppers will go through a rigorous training camp for participating in the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO).
NEO 2026 Award Ceremony
June 6, 2026
Team Bangladesh for the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) 2026 will be announced during the event. The top 30 participants and E-STEM Action Project winners will also be awarded.
19th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO)
August 20-27, 2026
The top 4 participants will have the opportunity to represent Bangladesh in the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) in Italy.
Study Resources
To do well in NEO, we highly recommend participants read all the materials provided in the resource sections.
FAQs
School/college students enrolled in classes 8 to 12 or private candidates of equivalent levels are eligible to participate in NEO. If anyone appears on the HSC exam but is not admitted into University, he/she can participate in NEO. However, in case of the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO), their rules and regulations state that previous medal winners at the IESO cannot participate again and to compete for medals at IESO, you must be under the age of 19 by 01 July of the year of the IESO.
Yes, they can participate. During registration, SSC/HSC candidates who haven’t enrolled in their subsequent institute (college/university) can use the name of the institute (school/college) where they graduated from most recently. For O/A Level Private Candidates, you have to use the name of your examination body or curriculum in the place of institute name (such as: British Council, Edexcel Private Candidate, etc)
The questions for the 1st round are mostly based on the basic earth science knowledge and natural phenomena that we encounter in Bangladesh, and some critical thinking questions relating to the theme of NEO from the respective year; while the national round dives deep into the fundamental understanding of Earth Science. For beginners, the book “High School Earth Science”, or class 9-10 level geography textbook by NCTB could be a handy resource for primary review, but there are other books too that we recommend. Please follow the Syllabus and Preparation Guideline sections thoroughly to understand how to prepare accordingly.
The question will be in English as well as Bengali.
The Registration fee for NEO 2026 is BDT 100. Your support will help us sustain NEO and give more Earth Science and environmental enthusiasts the opportunity to be part of the NEO journey. Thank you for your contribution.
The E-STEM Action Project is a new component of NEO that offers participants the opportunity to submit project proposals addressing local environmental challenges using E-STEM-based approaches and technologies. A total of ten projects will be selected to receive a BDT 150,000 in total funding, along with mentorship support for implementation.
Participants of GDT 2026 will be eligible to take part in this component.
After making through the divisional round, toppers from each division participate in the Green Day Training (GDT). GDT is a specially designed workshop to impart understanding of interconnected environmental issues through interactive games, puzzles, simulations, etc. It also helps young citizens develop their leadership skills and instill motivation to act on tackling the local and global environmental issues. It’s a day-long training which will be held in person, in all 8 divisions of Bangladesh. The overarching goal of the GDT is to create a nationwide network of empowered young citizens who will act as a catalyst to bring about positive socio-economic and environmental change.
IESO is the International Earth Science Olympiad, an annual competition for secondary school students (not older than 19 years during the contest). The students have to test their skills in all major areas of Earth sciences, including geology, meteorology, hydrology, planetary science and environmental sciences. The official language of IESO is English; however, supervisors may translate the written examinations and related materials into the participants’ native language. Selected national winners from NEO get a chance to train for and after a further selection, the top 4 to 8 students get to participate in the IESO.
25-30 toppers of each division will get the opportunity to participate in GDT. Those who successfully complete the GDT, are recognised as a NEO Alumni and receive a certificate of completion. Top 30 winners in the national round also get another certificate.
There is an IESO team selection process right after the national round, which includes a series of theoretical tests, and a few group assessment activities (online or offline). Prior to the assessments, students go through a few discussion/study sessions, mostly online.
This year, both the divisional and national round exams will be held in person across all divisions of Bangladesh. Participants will sit for the exams in their respective divisions. The exam dates, venues, and other relevant details will be shared with eligible participants in due course.
The Organizer
Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative (BYEI) is set up to educate, empower and inspire the Bangladeshi youth to take action for a prosperous and just Bangladesh. We believe that a new generation of planetary stewards with consciousness, capacity and motivation to act can transform the vision of a more just, fair and sustainable Bangladesh into a reality.
Supported by
Co-organizer
Bangladesh Geological Society
Strategic and Knowledge Partner
Department of Geology, University of Dhaka
Department of Environmental Science and Management,
Independent University,
Bangladesh
Media Partner
Outreach Partner
