ROCK THAILAND GEO COMPETITION
ROCK THAILAND
An academic quest of the Earth beneath the beauty
Synopsis
Given the advantages of modern communication and data availability, we propose a multidisciplinary and cross border contest for students from four prestigious universities in Romania and Bulgaria.
Rock Thailand is aimed at students of Geology, Geography, Environmental and Earth Sciences. Organized with the support of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the competition invites students to explore Thailand’s spectacular natural landscapes.
Participating Universities:
- Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Faculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University, Bulgaria
- Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj, Romania
- Faculty of Geography and Geology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Romania
Competition Task
Create a short project about a geological or geographical feature of Thailand.
Examples: limestone karst landscapes, island geomorphology, river systems, national parks, cave formations, or coastal evolution.
Topics
- Geology
- Geomorphology
- Tourism geography
- Landscape
- Geohazard
- Hydrology
- Sustainability
In addition to analysing the topic from an academic perspective, the participant will be tasked with addressing the following question: how is the study theme relevant for tourism in Thailand and how can it be promoted as a destination/ focal point to young travellers? (dedicate not less than 1 page to the topic).
How to participate
- If you are interested in participating, the first step is to register by filling in our questionnaire by 5 May 2026, at
- Then undertake an independent research study using online data or other data sources and prepare a comprehensive extensive abstract and a 7 minutes presentation, which you will submit by e-mail to: rockthailand2026@gmail.com, by 15 June 2026
- A virtual symposium will be held between 29-30 June 2026. Each participant will have a 7-10 minutes time slot to present their work. Each presentation will be followed by a 3-5 minutes peer Q&A session
- The winners of the competition will be announced on 2 July 2026
Contest Committee:
- Faculty members from each participating University:
- Representative of Tourism Authority of Thailand for Romania and Bulgaria
- Cristian Lascu – Geologist, Explorer and former Editor in-chief of National Geographic Romania
- Representative of Turkish Airlines in Romania and Bulgaria
Evaluation Criteria
Scientific accuracy • Creativity • Clarity of explanation • Visual quality • Relevance to Thailand’s landscapes
- Plagiarism and intense use of AI tool will result in immediate disqualification.
Grand Prize
A study trip to Thailand to explore its extraordinary landscapes and national parks.
* Trip to Thailand: 15-25 September 2026
Other prizes/ awards:
Certificates of attendance & give-away boxes for the top 5 places.
Important dates:
Participants registration: 25 April 2026
Presentations Uploading: 15 June 2026
Virtual symposium: 29 – 30 June 2026
Winners’ announcement: 2 July 2026
Organizing committee:
Bogdan Gligor – Representative office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for Romania and Bulgaria
Lecturer Dr. Eng. Ioan Munteanu – Vice Dean, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, Bucharest University
Prof. Elena Petkova, PhD – Sofia University, Faculty of Geology and Geography
Prof. Dr. Nicolae Har- UBB Cluj, Faculty of Biology and Geology
Lecturer Dr. Sergiu Loghin – UAIC Iași, Faculty of Geography and Geology
Tudor Geaman – Student , Student’ s Association
Tugce Bolukbas – Turkish Airlines Bulgaria
Taha Ozerol – Turkish Airlines Romania
