A piece of Sardinia traveled around the world this summer. Dario Boi, 15, grandson of Fernando Boi—Esterzili's son, who emigrated to the mainland but is deeply attached to his hometown—brought his homeland to Ji'ning, China, where the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) took place from August 7 to 16. Among 120 young people from 30 different countries , Dario stood out by winning gold in the International Team Field Investigation (ITFI) and silver in the Earth System Project (ESP), becoming the youngest participant in the entire event.
Behind the medals lies the story of a deep connection to his hometown. Every summer, Dario returns to the foot of Mount Santa Vittoria, to the house on Via Lanusei, built in the 1930s by his grandparents Adolfo and Filomena, breathing in the fresh air of the hills, the silence of the alleys, and the echoes of the community that saw him grow up. "Last summer I stayed with my grandparents for a month and a half," he says. "This year I would have liked to be there for the festival too, but that commitment took me far away."
A student in Chemistry, Materials, and Biotechnology at Civitavecchia, Dario successfully completed the Lazio regional competitions and placed third at the nationals, earning the right to represent Italy along with three other students.
His performance in China did not disappoint: scientific rigor, team spirit, and curiosity led him to excel in the most complex tests, confirming the talent that had already distinguished him at the national level.
And so Dario's triumph goes beyond academic merit. It's a celebration of roots, of the bond between emigrants and their countries of origin, of the strength of a community that grows through the stories of its young people.
In Esterzili, between Civitavecchia and Fiumicino, Dario's name echoes as a symbol of determination and passion : not just a student who wins medals, but a bridge between the small town in the Sardinian hinterland and the entire world.
And so science and study can take you far, but your roots—home, grandparents, community—remain the point from which everything takes shape . Dario Boi didn't just bring Italy to the world podium: he brought Esterzili. And with him, the future of all those young people who believe in dreams, curiosity, and the value of their homeland.