The expert council will select the winners in 10 categories. Photo: Feliks Geller, Anna Zinovieva
More than 500 projects and modern achievements have been nominated for the international geographical Crystal Compass Award in 2026. Applications have been received from 29 countries around the world. For the first time, representatives from Austria, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Venezuela, Indonesia, Iran, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, and Ecuador are participating in the competition.
«Crystal Compass is an award that brings together individuals, teams of scientists, and public figures and is of great importance. Its categories cover people’s activities related to nature, its conservation, and restoration. For several years now, we have been awarding not only Russian but also foreign geographers. And this is of great importance for our prestige, for our country, and for the Russian Geographical Society, » emphasized Chairman of the award’s expert council, Honorary President of the RGS, and Academician Vladimir Kotlyakov.
The most in-demand categories this year are «Education, ” «Photography, ” «Best Media Project, Media Project, ” and «Scientific Achievement».
The largest number of foreign applications were submitted by participants from the Republic of Belarus, India, and Ecuador. Among Russian regions, Moscow, the Krasnodar Territory, Saint Petersburg, and the Murmansk and Moscow Regions were the most active.
The expert council will select winners in 10 categories: «Scientific Achievement», «Journey and Expedition», «Education», «Best Mass Media Project, Media Project», «Photography», «Civic Participation», «Publication», «Best Regional Project», «Best Socio-informational Project for the Preservation of Natural, Historical, and Cultural Heritage», and «Best Environmental Project of Industrial Enterprises, Businesses».
The council includes scientists, public and government figures, Nobel Prize laureates and laureates of the USSR and Russian state awards, TV presenters, and recognized experts. Among them are Vladimir Kotlyakov, Aleksandr Chibilev, Olga Solomina, Valery Tishkov, Vyacheslav Rozhnov, Aleksandr Gelfan, Aleksey Sokov, Viktor Savinykh, Sergei Krikalev, Nikolai Drozdov, and Ivan Zatevakhin.
The recipient of the award in the «Public Recognition» category will be determined by users. The public voting will begin on October 1, 2026, on the official website of the award.
The International Crystal Compass Award is presented annually under the auspices of the Russian Geographical Society. The award recognizes outstanding achievements and research in the field of geography, ecology, and related sciences, as well as contributions to the preservation of natural, historical and cultural heritage, technological developments, and the advancement of society.
Over 14 years, nearly 5,500 author teams from 63 countries have been nominated for the award. Nearly 1.2 million people took part in the online voting in the «Public Recognition» category.