Following the tremendous success of the German delegation at the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) in 2025—to which the training camp for the top ten students, held at KIT for the first time, also contributed—the German Geosciences Federation has decided to host the training camp at KIT again in 2026.
On June 28, the ten top finalists of the German Geosciences Olympiad—who qualified through a three-stage selection process—are expected at KIT. There, at the Institute of Applied Geosciences (AGW) and the Geophysical Institute (GPI), they will undergo intensive preparation for the 2026 Olympiad under the headship of Prof. Dr. Schilling.
The target of the training camp is to prepare the students both academically and practically for the international competitions and to support the selection of the German team for the IESO 2026.
Contact person at the ZML
Michael Gauß
Phone: +49 721 608-48206
Email: michael.gauss3∂kit.edu
Program Content: Theory Meets Practice
For four days, the focus is on the practical teaching of geoscience topics. Participants will gain insights into:
- Fundamentals of Earth history, rock formation, tectonics, and seismology.
- Laboratory and fieldwork: identification of rocks and minerals, proper use of geological maps, and the recognition and exploration of geological structures in the field.
- Scientific methods and discussions: Testing seismic measurements at Mittes Hammerschlag, discussion of subsidence in the Po Valley around Turin, volcanoes, and the importance of viscosity for lava flow.
- Introduction to paleontology: Visit to the Karlsruhe Natural History Museum with hands-on insights into paleontology.
A key focus is on preparing the German delegation for the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO), which will take place in Turin in the fall of 2026. To this end, not only were subject-specific skills reinforced, but language skills were also strengthened—through English-language lectures and discussions—to boost the students’ confidence in communicating on the international stage.
Support and Organization
The training camp was held at the Institute of Applied Geosciences (AGW) at KIT and received organizational and pedagogical support from the Science Camp Team at the Center for Technology-Enhanced Learning.
The course was made possible by the support of:
- the German Geosciences Association (DVGeo)
- the Dr. Hartwig Blume Foundation
- the Karlsruhe Natural History Museum
