Géosciences No. 29: Talking about Earth

Minerals, fossils and rocks are invaluable educational and outreach tools, as well as subjects for analysis and investigation. France has some of the most exceptional geological collections in the world. These few photos evoke this marvellous mineral world.

A jagged granite coastline battered by the waves, green flower-filled meadows colouring the slopes of gentle limestone hills, or the dizzying thought of the immense processes that formed an Alpine landscape reaching for the sky. How does beauty come into geoscience?

It is sometimes said that science is universal. This is particularly true of geology, which is always trying to identify the mechanisms behind our planet and its incredible mineral diversity. It's hardly surprising, then, that nature and the mineral world have inspired artists since prehistoric times.

In decrypting historic objects that have come down to us, preserving and restoring them while respecting the materials of which they are made, the geoscience disciplines bring their vision and methods to bear, to help us understand and preserve our cultural heritage.

Of crucial importance to environmental and social issues, geology is part of the life and Earth sciences curriculum from primary school through to higher education. In France, it is a fundamental discipline along with biology. These two disciplines are essential to each other if we are to understand a wide range of phenomena, such as the evolution of life, climate change on different time-scales and the constitution of resources.

How can we make Earth sciences better known to the general public? How can we encourage children to explore them and choose a career in them? The geosciences are threatened by the waning popularity of science, despite the fact that they offer a wide range of essential future careers, exploring fascinating universes from the earth's core to the edge of the atmosphere, and even far beyond to other planets.

Loïc Ducarme, coordinator of the Terres d'Hérault global geopark: “A testament to our shared history, the geopark is also a place for dialogue between science and society.”

Among geoscientists’ basic tools, the field notebook is the one they use to record and conserve their measurements and observations, as well as sketch out the first conceptual models based on them. From mountain ranges to the depths of the sea, from deserts to equatorial forests, and even in karst formations, the pages of notebooks and tablets are filled with annotations and drawings.

Özlem Adiyaman-Lopes, specialist in UNESCO's International Geosciences and Geoparks Programme: “Our aim is to deepen our understanding of the geosciences and better identify our natural resources.”

A portfolio for discovering the major issues and essential contributions of the geosciences, through examples devoted to the exploration and proper management of natural resources and hazards.

Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega (IFRI) and Emmanuel Hache (IFPEN): “With the return of raw materials to the geopolitical game, metals are a crucial issue!”

David Dessandier, a geologist specialised in building stone, describes how the stone was procured for the extraordinary restoration work at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, in which BRGM played an active part, after the fire in 2019.