🎯 Terms and Conditions
The International Association of Geodesy (IAG) and its Global geodetic Observing System (GGOS) invites submissions to the Geodesy Cartoon Competition! The goal is to raise awareness of geodesy and its importance through humorous and visually engaging cartoons. We aim to make complex scientific concepts accessible to a broader audience — from students to the general public — and to encourage creativity in science communication. Whether you're a scientist, educator, student, or artist, join us in showcasing the fascinating world of geodesy in a fun and memorable way!
1. 📑 Submission Requirements
A) Cartoon Content:
1. Cartoon Categories: The submitted cartoon must fit into one of the three defined cartoon categories (see section 2 below) and meet its specific requirements.
2. Type of Drawing: The way the cartoon is drawn is entirely up to the cartoonist and his/her creativity and ingenuity. The cartoonist can create the cartoon by hand and scan it in high resolution once completed, or it can be produced entirely digitally.
3. AI Tools: Cartoons created with AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools (ChatGPT, MidJourney, Dall-E,…) are allowed but are only eligible for the “AI Recognition Award”. All submissions will be screened using reliable AI-detection tools. If a cartoon is identified as AI-generated and has not been marked as such during the submission process, it may be disqualified.
4. Meet Judging Criteria: The cartoonist should submit a cartoon that aligns as closely as possible with all judging criteria (see section 3 below). The better it fulfills these criteria, the greater the chance of winning a prize (see section 4 below).
5. Cartoon Colors: The background should be white; colorization of the cartoon itself is optional but welcome.
6. No Text Within the Cartoon: Please create a cartoon without visible text inside the drawing.
- Only universally understood elements (such as symbols or short labels) are allowed. But a title and subtext need to be added during the submission process (see section b4 below).
B) Files and Submission Details:
1. Cartoon File Format: Scanned in the highest resolution as a JPG or PNG file and max. 25 MB file size.
2. Size & Dimensions: Please ensure the cartoon image meets a minimum size of 4000x4000 pixel at min. 300 dpi.
3. Copyright/Originality: The cartoon must be an original creation by the cartoonist, who affirms that the work is free from any copyright infringement. The cartoonist also agrees that the submitted cartoon can be used after the competition by everyone under the CC BY 4.0 license (see section 7 below).
4. Title & Subtext: During the submission process the cartoonist needs to submit a short, descriptive, and easy-to-understand title (max. 55 characters) and subtext (max. 300 characters) in English via the submission form. This text should not be drawn in the cartoon itself, as it will be added later to enable a translation of the cartoon in multiple languages. The IAG reserves the right to make improvements to the submitted text.
5. Credit Sign: The cartoonist is required to submit a separate credit logo or signature that identifies them as the creator, ensuring proper attribution. The credit should be as concise as possible (see examples on existing cartoons at geodesy.science/cartoon). It will be included in the final published version of the cartoon. It needs to be in at least 300 dpi JPG or PNG file, with a max. file size of 5 MB. Please see following credit sign as an example:
6. Contributors: If additional individuals contributed to the cartoon (e.g., through idea development or other support), their names can be included in the submission and they will be recognized. However, any prize awarded will go to the cartoonist (i.e., the main submitting person).
C) How to Submit:
1. Submission Form: The cartoon(s) must be submitted via: https://geodesy.science/cartoon/competition/#submission
2. Submission Deadline: Each cartoonist is kindly asked to submit their cartoon(s) not later than the submission deadline (see section 5 below). Cartoons submitted after the deadline will not be considered for the competition.
3. Submission Limit: There is no limit to the number of cartoons a cartoonist can submit.
However, each cartoonist can win only one prize per category (see section 4 below).
4. Exclusion from Competition: If any of the requirements outlined in this document are not met, the submission may be disqualified from the competition and will not be included in the voting.
2. 🏷️ Cartoon Categories
Cartoons submitted need to be in one of the following categories with its specific requirements:
1 – Geodesy Explaining Cartoons
- Describe geodesy in a simple and accessible way for a general audience. Avoid technical details and instead focus on how geodesy benefits society, like touching on important topics like sea level rise, climate change, natural disasters, navigation, etc. The main message of the cartoon should be immediately clear to the viewer.
- General public and non-geodesists with little to no background in geodesy.
2 - Geodetic Observation Technique Cartoons
- An explanation of what geodetic observation techniques (e.g.: GNSS, VLBI, SLR, DORIS, gravimetry, etc.) do, ideally illustrated through a practical example of a resulting product. Some technical details may be included, but the content should remain accessible and not overly complex.
- It is acceptable if the viewer takes a bit longer (comparedto Category 1) to fully grasp the message.
- Non-geodesists, the general public, and individuals with basic exposure to geodetic topics (e.g., geoscientists).
3 - Geodetic Product Cartoons
An explanation of one of the geodetic products (e.g.: reference frames, EOP, geoid, atmosphere, etc.). This can be illustrated through a widely recognized application of the product. Some technical details may be included, but the content should remain accessible and not overly complex. It is acceptable if the viewer takes a bit longer (compared to Category 1) to fully understand the message.
- Non-geodesists, the general public, and individuals with basic exposure to geodetic topics (e.g., geoscientists).
3. ⭐ Judging Criteria
Each submitted cartoon must meet the following criteria as effectively as possible. The jury (see section 6 below) will base their voting on the anonymized cartoons (see section 6) on these criteria:
a) Clarity of Message / Simplicity: Is the cartoon’s message quickly recognizable?
The message should come across clearly without requiring explanation. A simple, direct visual story or idea often has the greatest impact and widest reach.
b) Accessibility for Non-Geodesists: Is the cartoon easily understood by the general public
Does it clearly show how geodesy, its products, or observation techniques advance and benefit society for non-geodesists?
c) Humor or Emotional Appeal:
Does the cartoon make people smile, laugh, or feel something?
A great cartoon often connects with the audience on an emotional level. Whether it’s clever humor, irony, or a touching message – emotional impact adds strength to the work.
d) Creativity & Visual Impact: Does the cartoon offer a fresh, original idea with a strong, eye-catching design that leaves a lasting impression?
4. 🏆 Prizes
🎨 The cartoons with the highest and second-highest total scores - based on all judging criteria (see section 3 above) as determined by the jury (see section 6 below) - will receive the GOLD and SILVER awards in each category. The creator of the best AI-created cartoon by each category will win the “AI Recognition Award”.
🏆 PRIZES ( FOR EACH CATEGORY ):
🥇 GOLD: 300 € cash prize + 50 € IAG Membership* + additional benefits**.
🥈 SILVER: 150 € cash prize + 50 € IAG Membership* + additional benefits**.
🤖 AI Recognition Award: 50 € IAG Membership* + additional benefits**.
🏅 Top 5 contributors by category: Get a reserved and free place at the IAG Geodesy Reception 2026 during EGU General Assembly 2026 in Vienna.
(Note: Submitter needs to be ranked within top 5 of at least one of the categories by jury voting to get a reserved place.
* IAG Membership:
- All winners (GOLD, SILVER, AI) will receive a free IAG Individual Membership for 2027 (worth of €50, non-cash).
- This includes discounts at IAG events and reduced subscription rate at Journal of Geodesy.
**Additional Benefits:
• Poster: The winning cartoons will be presented in poster size at the IAG Geodesy Reception during the EGU General Assembly in May 2026.
• Journal of Geodesy: Announcement of each winner in the IAG Newsletter, as part of the Journal of Geodesy.
• Highlighted Online: Each winner will be spotlighted in dedicated announcements across IAG and GGOS social media channels and at the IAG website.
• Announcement: Winners will be announced at IAG Geodesy Reception in May 2026.
*** AI Recognition Award:
• The best cartoon which was AI created will win this “AI Recognition Award”.
• All participants who submit a cartoon created using AI tools are excluded from the “GOLD” and “SILVER” awards, but are eligible to win the AI Recognition Award.
- After the final voting results are determined, the winners will be notified via email and the name will, be published at the website https://geodesy.science/cartoon/competition.
- The prize will be handed over in cash during the IAG Geodesy Reception or will be transferred to the winner via bank transfer. Any applicable transfer fees will be borne by the recipient (prize winner).
✍️ Remark: A cartoonist can win only one of these two (GOLD or SILVER) awards per category. If cartoons of one cartoonist qualifies in one category for both GOLD and SILVER based on points, they will receive only the GOLD award, and the SILVER will be awarded to the cartoon with the next highest score from another cartoonist.
5. 📅 Schedule and Deadlines
📣 Competition announcement / start: Sept. 2025.
📬 Deadline cartoon submission: March 22, 2026.
🗳️ Jury voting: April, 2026.
🏆 Announcement of the winners: Begin of May 2026 (during EGU26).
6. 👥 Jury
The jury consists of the IAG Executive Committee (EC) voting members and the GGOS Governing Board (GB) voting members. This ensures a well-balanced representation of all IAG components in the voting process.
• Voting Process: Each jury member awards up to 5 points per submitted cartoon for each of the judging criteria (see section 3 above). In the event of a tie between two or more cartoons, the jury will hold a second round of voting to determine the winner. The jury will not be informed of the cartoonists' identities.
• Only one vote per person: If a jury member is a member of both voting bodies (IAG EC and GGOS GB), they are entitled to only one vote.
• Expired Vote: If a jury member does not submit their vote by the given deadline, their vote will be forfeited.
• Jury Member Submission: If any voting member of the IAG EC or GGOS GB submits a cartoon for this competition, he/she will be excluded from the voting.
• Organizer Exclusion: As this competition is organized and the voting is conducted by the GGOS Coordinating Office at the BEV (Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying of Austria), individuals directly involved in the organizing and voting process are not eligible to submit a cartoon.
• Anonymized Cartoons: All cartoons will be presented to the jury without artist credit signs (see section 1b) above) during the judging process to ensure maximum objectivity. Credits will be added to the final published versions.
7. 🔓 Cartoon License and Future Publishing
- Each submitted cartoon is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0. This allows the cartoon to be shared and adapted by anyone, with the condition that proper credit is given to the cartoonist and to the IAG website geodesy.science/cartoon. There are no restrictions on who can use the cartoon, where it can be shared, or how often it can be distributed.
- After this competition, the cartoons will be published on the IAG website at geodesy.science/cartoon and shared through the IAG/GGOS social media channels. They can be also used in presentations, printed brochures, and further media to promote geodesy.
8. 💰 Prize Sponsors & Contributors
The prizes are kindly sponsored by the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). In addition, this competition would not be possible without the organizational efforts of the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying in Austria (BEV) and the dedicated support of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) and several individuals within the IAG community.
9. ✉️ Competition Organizer & Contact
The Geodesy Cartoon Competition is organized by the IAG’s GGOS Coordinating Office at the BEV – Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying of Austria.
🏠 If you have any question? Please contact us: geodesy.science/ggos/contact-ggos