Abstract
Geoscience is relevant to issues in sustainability in many ways, for example through the aspects of earth sciences connected to the environment, climate, geohazards, energy and natural resources. There is also significant support for the use of active fieldwork experience as an effective way to teach sustainability in earth science. Some of the best sites for exploring sustainability issues in geoscience are those designated for special attention, such as geoparks, geosites, nature reserves and World Heritage Sites. Former mining areas are another type of useful locality to teach about sustainability in geosciences, as these sites usually present ample evidence of severe mining impacts on the environment and people through time. Historical mining activities can present typical examples of non-sustainable ways of working alongside modern remediation projects to manage severe environmental problems. Here, the Great Copper Mountain in Falun, central Sweden, is presented as an example of a “suitable field study site” for teaching sustainability in geoscience. This site is a former mining area, today museum and visiting resort and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mining and human activities have had a severe impact on this landscape for up to 1000 years. As a result, it is an example of a historical non-sustainable activity that is now the site of active and developed remediation work that aims for a sustainable future for both environment and people. The Falun site presents themes useful for teaching both geoscience and sustainability, and it is presented in order to demonstrate the advantages of using a site like this for teaching sustainability in earth science.
Highlights
IntroductionMany aspects of the earth sciences deal with questions regarding the environment and sustainable development (defined by e.g. Brundtland 1987a and United Nations 2015), and it is important to raise questions on sustainable development when teaching geoscience
Many aspects of the earth sciences deal with questions regarding the environment and sustainable development, and it is important to raise questions on sustainable development when teaching geoscience
When choosing a field study site, it should be a locality that offers opportunities for a successful study on sustainability, as it connects to geoscience
Summary
Many aspects of the earth sciences deal with questions regarding the environment and sustainable development (defined by e.g. Brundtland 1987a and United Nations 2015), and it is important to raise questions on sustainable development when teaching geoscience. Geoscience field sites of public interest include nature reserves, national parks, geoparks, World Heritage Sites and biosphere areas, among others This special designation given to a site can have a crucial effect on available supportive material to help develop new ways of teaching that involve active student participation (Newbill 2009). This offers possibilities for working with education and courses to create teaching strategies in line with the ideas from previous studies (e.g. Orion 1989, 1993; Orion and Hofstein 1994) concerning pre- and post-activities with field studies. There is exposed bedrock and various geomorphological features
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