50th anniversary of the Geography Olympiad at the Poznań Geographic Center

Abstract

In the functioning of the modern system of science and teaching, special goals and tasks should be assigned to subject competitions. The Geography Olympiad is an excellent place for educating very good students, future generations of geographers, aware of the challenges of the modern world and looking for solutions that care for the resources of the natural environment and the well-being of societies. The concept of the Geography Olympiad is related to the activities of the Polish Geographical Society, which unites research workers, geography teachers and students in work for the science and didactics system.

The article discusses the scientific and didactic individuality of the Poznań Geographic Center of the University of Poznań Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, the concept of the Geography Olympiad and its basic goals. 50 years of operation of the District Committee of the Geography Olympiad in Poznań were presented, emphasizing selected issues, which included: the spatial scope of the District Geography Olympiad; composition of the committee organizing the competition, highlighting functions and tasks; participation of schools and teachers; participants – students in the District Committee of the Geography Olympiad competition. The results of the competition were discussed and the memories of the finalists and winners were included. Attention was also paid to the importance of the effects of the District Geography Olympiad in Poznań in the process of educating geographers and in promoting geography in society.

Universities should develop and improve contact with Olympians in terms of preparing them for geographical studies. Olympiads are a very good place for students to cooperate with teachers and researchers. The participation of research workers, regardless of this cooperation within the Olympiad, may also be manifested in the development of textbooks that skillfully transpose geographical knowledge in an appropriate way and constitute important scientific and didactic aid for students. The scientific and educational values of the Geography Olympiad are crucial for the popularization of knowledge both among young people and society. The quoted statements of the participants definitely emphasize the importance of the Geography Olympiad and draw attention to the substantive, educational and social benefits. The District Committee of the Geography Olympiad plays a unique role among schools, teachers and students in Greater Poland. Therefore, the durability of the Olympiads and their improvement should be secured, especially in the period of transformation of science and teaching in Poland.