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Geography is Everywhere: Announcing the 2026 MSU Geography Awareness Week Photography Contest

October 21, 2026 - Diane Huhn

Promotional flyer for the 2026 MSU Geography Awareness Week "Geography is Everywhere" Photography Contest, open October 21 to November 11 for all MSU students, faculty, scholars, staff, and alumni. Features a photo of a vintage camera wrapped in a world map pattern, with the MSU Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences logo at the bottom.

Geography isn’t confined to a classroom, a textbook, or a static map. Geography is all around us in the places we live, the landscapes we navigate, and the spatial connections we make every day. In anticipation of Geography Awareness Week 2026 (November 16–20), the MSU Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences invites MSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni to participate in our inaugural photo contest celebrating the theme "Geography is Everywhere."

The Geography is Everywhere theme encourages Spartans to look at the world through a spatial lens. Whether you are capturing urban patterns, natural landforms, local culture, environmental stewardship, or field research near or far, we want to see how you discover geography in your everyday life or travels.

The contest is open to MSU students & scholars, faculty, staff, retirees, and alumni. Entrants must have an official affiliation with MSU. Professional photographers and contest judges are ineligible.

Participants may submit up to three original photos taken at any point in time. AI-generated images or photos manipulated to alter their original state will not be accepted.

Prizes in the form of gift certificates and/or MSU Geography swag will be awarded to the winning entrants.

All photo entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges and announced in November during Geography Awareness Week. In addition to recognition across MSU Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences web and social media channels, winning photos will be printed, framed, and displayed in the Geography Building.

For further details, please review the Contest Guidelines, Rules, and Criteria.

Submission & Key Dates

  • Submissions Open: October 21, 2026
  • Submissions Close: November 11, 2026
  • Winner Announcement & Reception: Winners will be announced during Geography Awareness Week.

How to Submit

Ready to show us your spatial perspective? Submit your photos online between October 21 and November 11, 2026.

For questions regarding submission guidelines or contest details, please contact Diane Huhn at huhndian@msu.edu. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for updates throughout Geography Awareness Week!