Photo Competition "Snapshots of Exploration" 2026
Photo: CC, Pexels auf Pixabay
May 2026
At the fourth photo competition of the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy, students submitted 150 photos—a new record! The jury’s task of selecting the best photos from these was therefore particularly difficult, but a decision has now been made—warm congratulations to the three winners: Niklas Kastius, Lorin Helwig, and Clemens Wagner! In addition to the three main prizes, two special awards on the theme of “Diversity” were also presented this year; these go to Peter Haberer and Katharina Halbwidl. We thank all entrants for their participation and are already looking forward to the next round (expected in 2028)!
And the winners 2026 are ...
And the winners 2026 are ...
The first place in the "Snapshots of Exploration" photo competition 2026 goes to Niklas Kastius for his picture "Wanderer über den Wolken der Mitternachtssonne"; second to Lorin Helwig for "Vertikale Slums" and third to Clemens Wagner for "Politische (Physio-)Geographie. The two Special Awards "Diversity" go to Peter Haberer for"Drag me through the caves" and Katharina Halbwidl for "Hidden Diversity. We congratulate and thank all participants for their outstanding submissions! To the "Snapshots of Exploration" 2026
Great or exhausting excursions, long laboratory or coding days, your first day teaching internship or the most beautiful night sky: In the forth FGGA photo competition, all Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral students at the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy were once again invited to submit the best ‘Snapshots of Exploration’ from their studies! Participants in the university courses ‘Risk Prevention and Disaster Management (OeRISK)’ and ‘Cooperative Urban and Regional Development’ and the associated certificate courses at the university's Postgraduate Centre were also very welcome to submit photos.
The photos did not necessarily have to have been taken directly in courses, but should in any case be related to the respective degree programme: We were looking for exciting and aesthetically appealing photos that creatively and/or innovatively
- represent your field of study,
- were taken as part of your studies
- or are thematically related to your studies.
Each student could submit a maximum of two photos. (see detailed information and rules).
Special Awards ‘Diversity’
In addition to the main prizes, two special awards will also be presented this year – this time on the theme of diversity for photos that creatively reflect the topic of diversity (social or gender diversity, but also geological, biological or scientific diversity).
The following prices will be given to the winners of the competition:
- 1st price: 300 Euro
- 2nd price: 200 Euro
- 3rd price: 100 Euro
- 4th to 10th: small UNIVIE present and printed posters
- Special Awards "'Diversity": 100 euros
Call closed! The submission was possible from 15 January to 15 March 2026 – thank you for your Snapshots of Exploration!
Procedure and dates - call closed
Submission deadline over!
Each student was allowed to submit a maximum of two photos until 15 March 2026; now it's the jury's turn! The winners will be announced until May; the award ceremony will take place at the Talks & BBQ event on 28/ May at the NIG of the University of Vienna.
Jury 2026
- Franz Kerschbaum, Vice-Dean Teaching, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy
- Joseph Krpelan, Photographer (www.derknopfdruecker.com/)
- Students' Representatives of Astronomy - Anastasia Kiselev
- Students' Representatives of Earth Sciences - Flo Mahlberg
- Students' Representative of Geography - Livia Schulz
- Students' Representative of teacher education Geography and Economic Education - Christoph Haarich
- Students' Representative of Meteorology and Geophysics - Theo Schreck
- VISESS Students' Representative - Annemarie Lechte
Pre-selection
- Martina Egger, Coordinator Doctoral School VISESS
- Daniel Görgl, Head StudyServiceCenter Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy
- Franz Kerschbaum, Vice-Dean Teaching, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomyhttps://www.derknopfdruecker.com/
- Heidi Weinhäupl, Communication, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy
The competition is organised by the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy and the student's representatives for Astronomy, Earth sciences, Geography, Teaching geography and economic education, as well as for Meteorology and Geophysics and since 2023 for VISESS.
Thank you for your "Snapshots of Exploration"!
The winners 2024 were ...
The winners 2024 were ...
The first place in the "Snapshots of Exploration" photo competition of the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy goes to Lukas Ackermann for his picture "Die unaussprechbare Schlucht"; second to Jonathan Schmidt for "Spektakel der Elemente" and third to Mohammad Goudarzi for "Normal Fault"; as a Special award also to Manuel Staggl for "Im Innersten doch ganz bunt". We congratulate and thank all participants for their outstanding submissions! To the "Snapshots of Exploration" 2024
The winners 2023 were ...
The winners 2023 were ...
The first place of our photo competition 2023 went to Klaus Karner, the second to Maximilian Ihlenburg and the third to Julian Portenkirchner; while Nicole Keller and Kajetan Moro receive the two Special Awards "Planetary Health". In the category 4 to 10, the jury did not rank the best snapshots - they were too close together. Congratulations and many thanks to all participants for their outstanding submissions! To the "Snapshots of Exploration" 2023
And the winners 2021/22 were ...
And the winners 2021/22 were ...
The first place of the photo competition 2021/22 went to Christoph Matella for his picture "Above the colourful clouds"; the second to Philip Kroos for the "Milky Way over Namibia" and the third to Stephan Troyer for "Moments of encounter". In the category 4 to 10, the jury did not rank the best snapshots - they were too close together. Congratulations and many thanks to all participants for their outstanding submissions! To the "Snapshots of Exploration" 2021/22