Fossil of the Year 2027 – Here's How You Can Participate!
Fossil of the Year 2027 – Here's How You Can Participate!
Our call for entries for the “Fossil of the Year 2027” creative contest on Instagram has already drawn a lot of curious attention to the fossils of the Swabian Alb. Now it’s your turn: Join in and submit your entries to us by the end of December!
We’re looking for your favorite fossil from the Swabian Alb – artistically interpreted and featuring your personal perspective on the region’s geological history. Whether it’s an ammonite, belemnite, ichthyosaur, sea urchin, or another fossil relic: Draw, paint, create a collage, print, or design your motif and send it to us digitally.
The focus is on your ideas and the joy of creating. Let fossils in museum exhibits, photos, or illustrations inspire your entry for the contest. This way, you can creatively design your favorite fossil while also helping to preserve valuable records of Earth’s history.
What's it about?
Fossils tell the story of past ecosystems and the formation of our landscape today. They offer insights into the Jurassic Sea, where ammonites and other marine creatures lived, and bear witness to a geological history that stretches back millions of years. The contest invites participants to depict this history from a highly personal artistic perspective. The selected entries will be featured on the social media platforms of the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb.
Voting
The UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb will select an entry to represent the Schwäbische Alb in the European competition organized by the European Geoparks Network (EGN). (It has not yet been determined whether the selection will instead be made through a vote on our social media channels.)
Who can participate?
The creative contest is open to anyone interested—regardless of age and with no prior knowledge required. Entries from children, teenagers, families, school classes, art groups, and anyone passionate about the geology of the Swabian Alb are especially welcome.
Here's how you can participate
Entries may include drawings, paintings, collages, prints, digital illustrations, or other artistic works. It is important that a fossil from the Swabian Alb be the central focus of the work.
Please send your work digitally
- Digitally created works: as JPG, PNG, or PDF (not AI-generated)
- Analog works: as a high-quality photo or scan, also as JPG, PNG, or PDF
- Three-dimensional works: please include photos from multiple angles
The file size should not exceed 10 MB. For larger files, please use a free file-sharing service (e.g., WeTransfer, Google Drive, etc.) and email us the download link.
When submitting your entry, please include your name, city, and—for children and teenagers—your age. A brief explanation of why you chose this fossil, or a few words about your work, is welcome.
Deadline for submissions
Please send your submissions to info(at)geopark-alb.de by December 31, 2026. We look forward to seeing your creative interpretations of the geological history of the Swabian Alb!
INFO: Preserving Fossils – Protecting Earth's History
Fossils and their sites are archives of Earth’s history. They provide insights into past ecosystems, landscapes, and climatic conditions. If fossils are collected indiscriminately or mined for commercial purposes, sites can be destroyed and valuable scientific information can be irretrievably lost. That is why the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb is committed to the protection, research, and education regarding this geological heritage. It therefore expressly distances itself from the sale and trade of fossils and minerals.
