Call for Submissions – LearnGeo 2026:

Talks, Workshops & Hands-On Activities

The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) and the Société Géologique de France (SGF) invite contributions for ‘LearnGeo 2026: Learn Geoscience. Lead Change. Light the Way‘, a dynamic event designed to open the world of geoscience to students, teachers, and citizens.

LearnGeo will take place back-to-back with the Avenia Geodays (16–17 June 2026) at Palais Beaumont, Pau, in the south of France, forming a full week dedicated to geoscience innovation, education, and public engagement.

We welcome proposals for inspiring talks and interactive workshops/hands-on activities that highlight the diversity, societal importance, and future opportunities offered by the geosciences.

1. Call for Talks

Inspiring insights into geoscience careers, impact, and innovation.

We invite short, accessible, and engaging presentations (15-20 minutes) that:

• Showcase career opportunities in geosciences today and in the future.
• Highlight innovative research, industry projects, or technologies shaping the energy and environmental transition.
• Demonstrate the societal value of geoscience (climate, hazards, water, environment, energy, resources, land use…).
• Inspire young people by telling personal career journeys, unexpected paths, or cross-disciplinary experiences.
• Illustrate the diversity of geoscience professions and the skills needed for tomorrow’s challenges.
• Talks should be accessible to non-specialist audiences, especially secondary schools
  students and teachers, while remaining informative for professionals.

2. Call for Workshops / Hands-On Activities

We welcome two categories of interactive sessions:

A. Workshops & Hands-On Activities for Students and Citizens

• These activities should offer direct, engaging experiences such as:
• Simple scientific experiments
• Interactive demonstrations
• Outdoor mini-activities or measurements
• Map reading, rock/mineral identification
• Role-play or decision-making games (e.g., siting a geothermal plant, managing natural hazards)
• Artistic or creative approaches inspired by geoscience
• Any activity that makes Earth sciences tangible, fun, and relatable

Target audience: secondary school students (15–18) and interested citizens

Duration: 30–60 minutes, repeated if relevant/of interest

B. Workshops for Geoscience Professionals

We also invite contributions for professional development workshops focusing on:

• Science communication techniques and best practices
• Public and community engagement around geoscience projects
• Working with schools and youth audiences
• Media training, storytelling, and visual communication
• Engagement strategies for sensitive topics (e.g., mining, geothermal, subsurface uses)
• Citizen science in geosciences

Target audience: industry professionals, researchers, consultants, public authorities, and
educators
Duration: 60–90 minutes