Geography Whiz Kid from Offenburg Rules the National Diercke Wissen Title
National Geography Win: Student Triumphs as Germany's Top Geography Contender from Offenburg - Federal Geography titleholder: Offenburg student secures national victory
Damian Schillinger, the 15-year-old geography guru from Offenburg, Baden-Württemberg, has snatched the title of National Geography Champion after a nail-biting competition in Braunschweig. The young scholar outshone his rivals by swiftly answering a barrage of geography-related questions, securing his spot as the top dog in the field. Artur Richter from Dresden, Saxony, and Luiz Loewenstein from Hamburg had to settle for the runner-up and third-place positions, respectively.
The finale saw the 16 state champions and one representative from German schools abroad battling it out. They faced questions on a variety of topics such as sustainability goals, population pyramids, cargo transportation, and earthquake strengths. Damian's impressive performance qualified him for further competitions, potentially representing Germany at the iGeo 2026 in Istanbul.
It's worth noting that around 300,000 young minds participated in the competition in Germany, with approximately 3,500 contestants from German schools spread across five continents aiming for a slot in Braunschweig. Although the international representative for this year's event hasn't been officially announced, Leon Praveen Lang from the German International School Zagreb might just be the one to represent the international contingent.
Launched by the Association of German School Geographers and the Westermann Verlag, the competition is renowned as the largest student competition in Germany. Now in its 25th year, the goal is to ignite a passion for geography among the younger generation.
While the 2026 iGeo location is yet to be disclosed, the 2025 edition is being held in Thailand [5]. For updated information on who will represent Germany at the iGeo 2026, it's advisable to check the official website of the International Geography Olympiad or contact the organizers directly.
- Offenburg (champion's hometown)
- Baden-Württemberg
- Germany
- Geography (school subject)
- Braunschweig (competition venue)
- Artur Richter (2nd place)
- Dresden (2nd place's hometown)
- Saxony
- Luiz Loewenstein (3rd place)
- Hamburg
[5] https://www.cyprus-mail.com/2021/10/20/english-school-in-nicosia-taking-part-in-international-geography-olympiad/
In Damian Schillinger's hometown of Offenburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, the geography whiz kid dominated the National Diercke Wissen Title, outperforming contestants in vocational training programs and other subjects to secure his spot as the top dog among the younger generation's geography enthusiasts. His impressive performance in the competition, which covered topics such as sustainability goals, population pyramids, cargo transportation, and earthquake strengths, qualifies him for further education-and-self-development opportunities, potentially representing Germany at the iGeo 2026 in Istanbul.
