The University of Rzeszów hosted participants of the District Competitions of the 52nd Geography Olympiad. The event gathered 62 students from over 30 secondary schools in the region, accompanied by their teachers and parents.

The competition took place on February 7 and 8, 2026, simultaneously across Poland, and was organized by the Polish Geographical Society. The participants faced both written and oral examinations.

The event was officially opened by Prof. Janusz Pasterski, Vice-Rector for Cooperation with the Socio-Economic Environment. Three geographers from our University served on the Organizing Committee and the Jury panel: Dr. hab. Piotr Gębica, Prof. UR, Dr. Agata Ćwik, and Dr. Małgorzata Skulimowska.

We wish all 16 Laureates of the District Competitions success in qualifying for the Finals in Chorzów, as well as the International Geography Olympiad, which will take place this year in Istanbul.

Accompanying Events The Geography Olympiad was complemented by several side events, including a lecture by Dr. Małgorzata Skulimowska titled "Roztocze – A Borderland of Cultures", combined with the promotion of her tourist guide to the Roztocze region.

Additionally, two events were held under the "Excellent Podkarpacie" RID Program:

• The opening of a microphotography exhibition: "Journey Around the (Micro)World: Diatom species described by researchers from the University of Rzeszów" by Dr. Łukasz Peszek and Dr. Mateusz Rybak.

• An open lecture by Prof. Iwona Kania-Kłosok titled: "Fossil Fauna of the Polish Carpathians Flysch: Where do fossils of ancient living organisms preserved in sediments come from?"