7-1 To Protect and Value Geo-collections for Future Generations

Session: A Change in Focus for Sustainability in Geoscience Education

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) acknowledges geological heritage to be of highest scientific importance to appreciate and sustain its use as an educational resource and to preserve it for the good of society and for our planet’s well-being. The decline of the biosphere, global warming, the sustainability of regional populations, and other global challenges can best be addressed with policies based on scientific knowledge (Zumaia declaration, 28 October 2022). In collaboration with UNESCO’s International Geoscience Program and after the presentation of 200 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites, the first 11 Geological Heritage Collections have been presented at the 37th International Geological Congress held in Busan, South Korea, in August 2024. These collections are noteworthy because they contain physical specimens and metadata that are crucial for understanding Earth and the solar system and are of global importance because of their particularly high scientific, historical, and educational relevance. IUGS Geo-collections educate and inspire the public, preserve the record for future generations, and underlie research into our most pressing fields: the origin of water and life on Earth, understanding the history of life, climate change, and the development of new resources, including green technologies. Many of these collections are irreplaceable and can be the basis of new discoveries and new ways of teaching people about the Earth, sparking interest in our discipline and stewardship of the Earth and its resources. The next goal is the selection of the "First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Collections” and a first call for proposals, evaluation, and designation of new candidates has been put forward in summer 2025.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-7746

© Copyright 2025 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved.