The Schools Geology Challenge is a competition where students showcase their interest in geology, learn more about the way geoscience impacts our lives, and put their teamwork and presentation skills to the test!
First prize includes the coveted Schools Geology Challenge Trophy, £500 to use towards geoscience education at school, a year’s Student Membership with the Geological Society plus a certificate. The two runners-up will each receive £200 to use towards geoscience education at school and a certificate.
Participants don’t have to study geology to enter – the competition is open to any interested students who are currently studying geology, geography or science A-levels (England/Wales/Northern Ireland), or Advanced Highers (Scotland).
Feel free to download this helpful PowerPoint presentation which will help teachers to easily explain/promote the competition to students.
Also known as ‘geoscience’ or ‘Earth science’, geology is the study of the structure, evolution and dynamics of the Earth and its natural resources. Geology investigates the processes that have shaped the Earth through its 4500 million year history and uses the rocks, minerals and fossils to unravel that history. It is concerned with the real world beyond the laboratory and has direct relevance to the needs of society. Geology tells us about the composition, structure, processes, and history of all planets - even those in outer space!
The competition runs in two stages: the Qualifiers and the Final.
In order to enter the competition, students need to make a submission to the Qualifiers via our online entry form. Their submission should fit the competition brief, and be uploaded via the online form. Only ONE entry per team is permitted. Entries will be marked by a panel of judges.
The 10 highest-scoring entries will be invited to the Final, where they will complete a problem-solving challenge in their teams. The Final takes place in-person at Burlington House along London's iconic Piccadilly. Reimbursement for travel costs of up to £700 will be made available.
For full details on how to enter, please see the competition rules.
For the Qualifiers, we would like you to:
1. Choose a geoscience topic.
2. Present that topic for an online audience.
3. Submit your entry via the online entry form
Submissions will be judged according to: scientific content and accuracy (50%), how effectively the topic is communicated to the audience (25%), creativity (25%)
For more detailed information, please check out the competition brief.
The final will take place at our HQ in Burlington House, Piccadilly, London
The final will involve a problem solving activity about geology and its real world applications. The activity will be explained at the final, but students will be testing their analytic and teamwork skills, and presenting to a panel of judges.
See Finals Terms & Conditions for important information regarding attendance and participation at the Finals.
The competition gives pupils the chance to explore a geoscience topic for themselves, and present it in an interesting way. Those who make it to the Final will be able to meet peers with an interest in Geology, professionals who currently work in geoscience careers, and gain valuable problem-solving skills whilst learning about the ways geology weaves into our everyday lives. Of course, there are also some amazing prizes up for grabs!
The final of the 2024 competition took place at Burlington House on 21 March. This year's problem solving activity involved teams identifying a suitable site for a wind farm in the fictional town of Quinnston. Using a geological map and a cross section of the bedrock, students had to consider whether the geology of the area was suitable to support large wind turbine infrastructure. Students also had to comment on the environmental and social impacts of their recommended wind farm location, given the general proximity to the local town and a neighbouring national park, home to a protected bird species – all while keeping their project to budget!
The Tiffin Girls' School were proclaimed the winners of 2024 and were awarded the coveted Schools Geology Challenge trophy, along with £500 for their school and a year's Student Membership for each member of the team. The Sixth Form College Farnborough and Runshaw College were both runners-up.
You can see the list of all our past winners here.
Check out some of our previous competition entries below!
Visit our YouTube channel to access more video entries, or why not take a look at our Scientific Themes for further inspiration?
Fancy tackling the finalists' problem-solving conundrum? Download the full 2024 Teacher Resource Pack using the links below to run the activity in your classroom!
You can also access the Teacher Resource Packs from previous Schools Geology Challenges:
If you have any questions about the competition or would like to sign up to updates, please fill out our online form
You can also keep updated on further competitions and education news from the Geological Society by signing up to our Schools Affiliates Scheme.