Geoconservation is an emerging geoscience. In order to gain recognition among the scientific community and in society in general, education lato sensu is of paramount importance. This work presents the experience of the University of Minho with geoconservation education during the past 10 years, namely with graduation and postgraduation courses, teachers training, research, and outreach. Working in those different levels enhanced the university internationalisation with an increase in students and staff exchange. In order to reinforce worldwide recognition universities should strengthen their strategy towards geoconservation by creating courses and developing research projects

Brilha, J. B.

Pereira, D. I.

Pereira, Paulo

Universidade do Minho: RepositoriUM

Geoconservation education, research and outreach : the experience of the University of Minho (Portugal)

*HRORJLDGHOO·$PELHQWH6XSSOHPHQWRDOQGeoheritage:Protectingand SharingBari - Italy, 24-28 September 20127th International Symposium ProGEO on the Conservation of the Geological Heritage3rd Regional Meeting of the ProGEO SW Europe Working Groupwww.geoheritagesymposium-bari2012.org!"#$#%&'()"$$*+,-&"./"Periodico trimestrale della SIGEASocietà Italiana di Geologia AmbientalePoste Italiane S.p.a. - Spedizione in Abbonamento Postale - D.L. 353/2003 (conv. in L. 27/02/2004 n° 46) art. 1 comma 1 - DCB RomaSupplemento al n. 3/2012ISSN 1591-5352!"#!"$%&In copertina:  Il promontorio di Capo Colonna Area calanchiva di AlianoSommarioPLENARY SESSION - INVITED SPEAKERS 5 GEOSITES 9GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE AND LAND-USE  90PLANNING GEOPARK AND GEOTURISM 130COOPERATION AND EDUCATION 180FIELDTRIP GUIDES 210Geologia dell’AmbientePeriodico trimestrale della SIGEASocietà Italiana di Geologia AmbientaleSupplemento al n. 3/2012Anno XX - luglio-settembre 2012a cura di  Iscritto al Registro Nazionale della Stampa n. 06352Autorizzazione del Tribunale di Roma n. 229 del 31 maggio 1994Comitato scientificoMario Bentivenga, Aldino Bondesan, Giancarlo Bortolami, Aldo Brondi, Felice Di Gregorio, Giuseppe Gisotti, Giancarlo Guado, Gioacchino Lena, Giacomo Prosser, Giuseppe SpilotroConsiglio Direttivo nazionale 2010-2013Davide Baioni, Domenico Bartolucci, Federico Boccalaro, Giancarlo Bortolami, Antonio Fiore (Tesoriere), Fabio Garbin (Segretario), Francesco Geremia, Giuseppe Gisotti (Presidente), Gioacchino Lena (Vice Presidente), Massimo Massellani, Vincent Ottaviani, Andrea Vitturi, Francesco ZarlengaComitato di redazioneFederico Boccalaro, Giorgio Cardinali,Giovanni Conte, Gioacchino Lena, Paola Mauri, Maurizio ScardellaDirettore responsabileGiuseppe GisottiProcedura per l’accettazione degli articoli I lavori sottomessi alla rivista dell’Associazione, dopo che sia stata verificata la loro pertinenza con i temi di interesse della Rivista, saranno sottoposti ad un giudizio di uno o più Referees.RedazioneSIGEA: tel./fax 06 5943344Casella Postale 2449 U.P. Roma 158info@sigeaweb.itwww.sigeaweb.itProgetto grafico e impaginazioneAngelo Perriniangelo_perrini@fastwebnet.itPubblicitàSIGEAStampaTipolitografia Acropoli, Alatri - FRAbbonamento annuale: Euro 30,00*HRORJLDGHOO·$PELHQWH6XSSOHPHQWRDOQ183Geoconservation education, research and outreach: the experience of the University of Minho (Portugal)J. BRILHA, D. PEREIRA AND P. PEREIRAEarth Sciences Centre, University of Minho and Geology Centre of the University of Porto, Portugal,e-mail: jbrilha@dct.uminho.ptABSTRACTGeoconservation is an emerging geo-science. In order to gain recognition among the scientific community and in society in general, education lato sensu is of paramount importance. This work presents the experience of the University of Minho with geoconservation education du-ring the past 10 years, namely with gradua-tion and post-graduation courses, teachers training, research, and outreach. Working in those different levels enhanced the uni-versity internationalisation with an increase in students and staff exchange. In order to reinforce worldwide recognition universities should strengthen their strategy towards ge-oconservation by creating courses and deve-loping research projects.KEYWORDS: GEOCONSERVATION; EDUCATION; RESEARCH; OUTREACH; UNIVERSITY OF MINHOINTRODUCTIONGeoconservation is an emerging geo-science requiring further recognition by the general public and even by the geoscienti-fic community (Henriques et al., 2011). The promotion of geoconservation education is a factor of great importance to broaden this re-cognition (Van Loon, 2008). The University of Minho (UMinho) in northern Portugal already has a significant history in geoconservation education. UMinho is one of the so-called “new universities” that were created in Por-tugal during the transition of the dictatorship to democracy. With two campi in Braga and Guimarães, UMinho is a middle-size univer-sity created in 1973. Today it has around 18,000 students and 1,100 members in the academic staff. The first works concerning geoconservation were developed in 1996 in the Earth Sciences Department. This research was related with the inventory of geological heritage in Alvão Natural Park under the scope of a master thesis on Environmental Sciences (Branco, 1996). In 2003, the Earth Sciences Research Centre started a research line dedicated to geoconservation supporting the development of more structured studies in this domain. The present activity on geo-conservation at UMinho integrates teaching, teachers training, research and outreach. GEOCONSERVATION TEACHINGGeoconservation subjects are taught both in graduation and post-graduation courses. In what concerns graduation, there are optional courses (5 ECTS) on geodiversity and geoconservation for Geology, Biology and Geography.Considering post-graduation, the uni-versity offers a master degree on Geological Heritage and Geoconservation since 2005 (Pereira et al., 2008a; 2009). Since then, around seventy students have enrolled in this master with an average of 10 new students each year. As far as we know, this 2-years de-gree (120 ECTS) is the only post-graduation degree in the world totally dedicated to this geoscience domain. During the first year, students have to complete several multidi-sciplinary modules such as Geodiversity; GIS and computers applied to geoconservation; Inventorying, conservation and interpreta-tion of geological heritage; Environmental legislation; Geotourism; Education for su-stainable development; and Mining heritage, among others. The second year is dedicated to the preparation of a dissertation or project. The research produced in some of the dis-sertations became the backbone of several books that were published in different con-texts (Alfama et al., 2008; Catana, 2009; Sá et al., 2008).After finishing their master degree, stu-dents are getting jobs as geoconservation experts in geoparks, protected areas, natural history museums, and also as teachers in secondary schools and in universities. Some students decide to follow their studies and enrol in PhD programmes.An optional course on geotourism is also offered in the master on Tourism and Cultural Heritage.UMinho is also engaged with geoconser-vation at the PhD level. Several theses have been produced focused of themes centred in Portugal (e.g. Pereira, 2006), Cape Verde (Pe-reira, 2010a) and Brazil (e.g. Pereira, 2010b). This last one concerns geoconservation in Chapada Diamantina (Bahia, Brazil) and was awarded in 2011 the best thesis in “Techno-logies and Natural Sciences” by the House of Latin America/Bank Totta Santander.UMinho experience on geoconserva-tion education has enhanced international exchanges with other universities with the support of different grant programmes like Erasmus and Al an (both from the Europe-an Union) and Gulbenkian (from Portugal). While Portuguese students have travelled to Brazil and Greece, UMinho has received students from Argentina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Mozambique, and Thailand. Staff mo-bility includes countries like Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States of America. TEACHERS TRAININGIn Portugal, geology and biology have the same importance in the secondary school cur-ricula (namely, the number of teaching hours per week). Therefore, having teachers with a solid scientific and pedagogical background in these natural sciences has the highest relevance. UMinho has been committed in teachers training for more than 30 years gi-ving degrees and organising lifelong training activities for in-service teachers. The Earth Sciences Department has been organising li-felong training sessions dedicated to geocon-servation subjects. These sessions consist of lectures where the main concepts concerning geoconservation are presented and discus-sed and of fieldtrips where teachers learn how to use geosites with educative value in their classes.RESEARCHThe Earth Sciences Centre has been deve-loping fundamental and applied research on geoconservation. This research is produced under the scope of master and PhD theses, sponsored research projects, and contracts. The main research project coordinated by UMinho in this area took place between 2007 *HRORJLDGHOO·$PELHQWH6XSSOHPHQWRDOQ184and 2010 and was sponsored by the Portu-guese Foundation for Science and Technology (Brilha et al., 2008; 2010). The project invol-ved more than seventy experts from the vast majority of Portuguese geological institutions and has produced among other outputs the first systematic inventory of Portuguese geo-logical heritage based on geosites scientific value. During recent years, researchers from UMinho have been developing research mainly related with concepts and methodologies to be employed in the quantitative assessment of geological heritage (e.g. Pereira & Pereira, 2010). More recently, they are also engaged in the definition of methodologies for geodi-versity assessment and cartographic repre-sentation of a geodiversity index (Forte et al., 2012; Pereira et al., 2012).OUTREACHAnother goal of UMinho is to increase pu-blic awareness of geoconservation. In order to promote public awareness several strategies have been put into place: guided fieldtrips to selected geosites, participation in TV do-cumentaries and radio shows, lectures for general public and for school children, and edition of written publications (e.g. Alfama et al., 2008; Pereira et al., 2008b; Brilha & Pereira, 2011).In spite of the low number of staff mem-bers involved in geoconservation, UMinho already has a remarkable experience which was built during the last 10 years. The work done in different academic levels (gradua-tion, master and PhD) and for different types of public is a strategy to prepare the Por-tuguese society for future geoconservation challenges.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis work is developed in the Earth Sciences Centre of the University of Minho and in the Geology Centre of the University of Porto and sponsored by the Science and Technology Foundation (Project PEst-OE/CTE/UI0039/2011).REFERENCESAlfama V., Mota Gomes A., Brilha J. (2008) - Guia Geoturístico da Ilha do Fogo (Cabo Verde). De-partamento de Ciências da Terra da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, 61p.Branco M.J.C. (1996) - Fisgas de Ermelo – Um valor geológico e paisagístico dentro do Parque Natural do Alvão. Dissertação de Mestrado em Ciências do Ambiente, Universidade do Minho, 108p.Brilha J., Barriga F., Cachão M., Couto M.H., Dias R., Henriques M.H., Kullberg J.C., Medina J., Moura D., Nunes J.C., Pereira D.I., Pereira P., Prada S., Sá A. (2008) - Geological heritage inventory in Portugal: implementing geological frameworks. Proc. 5th International Symposium ProGEO on the Conservation of the Geological Heritage, Rab, Croatia, 93-94.Brilha J., Alcala L., Almeida A., Araújo A., Azeredo A., Azevedo M.R., Barriga F., Brum da Silvei-ra A., Cabral J., Cachão M., Caetano P., Cobos A., Coke C., Couto H., Crispim J., Cunha P.P., Dias R., Duarte L.V., Dória A., Falé P., Ferreira N., Ferreira Soares A., Fonseca P., Galopim de Carvalho A., Gonçalves R., Granja H., Henriques M.H., Kullberg J.C., Kullberg M.C., Legoinha P., Lima A., Lima E., Lopes L., Madeira J., Marques J.F., Martins A., Martins R., Matos J., Medina J., Miranda R., Monteiro C., Moreira M., Moura D., Neto Carvalho C., Noronha F., Nunes J.C., Oliveira J.T., Pais J., Pena dos Reis R., Pereira D., Pereira P., Pereira Z., Piçarra J., Pimentel N., Pinto de Jesus A., Prada S., Prego A., Ra-malho L., Ramalho M., Ramalho R., Relvas J., Ribeiro A., Ribeiro M.A., Rocha R., Sá A., Santos V., Sant’ovaia H., Sequeira A., Sousa M., Ter-rinha P., Valle Aguado B., Vaz N. (2010) - The national inventory of geosites in Portugal. Ab-stracts Book of the International Conference on Geoevents, Geological Heritage and the Role of IGCP (First Meeting of ProGEO Regional Working Group SW Europe), Ayuntamiento de Caravaca de la Cruz, Spain, 18-24.Brilha J. & Pereira P. (Eds.) (2011) - Património geológico: geossítios a visitar em Portugal / Ge-ological heritage: geosites to visit in Portugal. Universidade do Minho, Braga, 137p. Catana M.M. (2009) - Rota dos fósseis: pergun-tas e respostas. Município de Idanha-a-Nova, 106p.Forte J., Brilha J., Pereira D., Nolasco M. (2012) - Quantitative evaluation of geodiversity: deve-lopment of methodological procedures with ap-plication to territorial management. Geophysi-cal Research Abstracts Vol. 14, EGU2012-8739, 2012 EGU General Assembly, Vienna.Henriques M.H., Pena dos Reis R., Brilha J., Mota T.S. (2011) - Geoconservation as an emerging geoscience. Geoheritage, 3(2), 117-128.Pereira D., Brilha J., Dias G. (2008a) - Master’s course on Geological Heritage and Geoconser-vation. European Geologist, No. 26, 29-31.Pereira D., Brilha J., Pereira P. (2008b) - Geodiver-sidade: valores e usos. Universidade do Minho, Braga, 16p. Pereira D., Brilha J., Dias G. (2009) - Patrimonio geologico e Geoconservazione: nuovi sbocchi professionali. Geologi di Sicilia, Anno XVII, Gennaio-Marzo, 1, 25-27.Pereira D., Santos L., Silva J., Pereira P., Brilha J., França J., Rodrigues C. (2012) - Finding the pro-per methodology for geodiversity assessment: a recent approach in Brazil and Portugal. Geo-physical Research Abstracts Vol. 14, EGU2012-11801, 2012 EGU General Assembly, Vienna.Pereira J.M. (2010a) - Concepção de uma estratégia de geoconservação para Cabo Verde e sua apli-cação à Ilha de Santiago. Tese de doutoramento, Universidade do Minho, 383p.Pereira R.F. (2010b) - Geoconservação e desen-volvimento sustentável na borda oriental da Chapada Diamantina (Bahia/Brasil). Tese de doutoramento, Universidade do Minho, 295p.Pereira P. (2006) - Património geomorfológico : conceptualização, avaliação e divulgação : apli-cação ao Parque Natural de Montesinho. Tese de doutoramento, Universidade do Minho, 370p.Pereira P., Pereira D.I. (2010) - Methodological guidelines for geomorphosite assessment. Géo-morphologie: Relief, Processus, Environnement, 2, 215-222.Sá A.A., Brilha J. Rocha D., Couto H., Rábano I., Medina J., Gutiérrez-Marco, J.C., Cachão M., Valério M. (2008) - Geoparque Arouca. Geologia e Património Geológico. Câmara Municipal de Arouca, Arouca, 127p.Van Loon A.J. (2008) - Geological education of the future. Earth Sci Rev, 86, 247-254.

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Geoconservation education, research and outreach : the experience of the University of Minho (Portugal)

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