Digital educational tools – smart solutions for heavy stuff

Although geoscientific topics (e. g. climate change, natural hazards, geoheritage) engage public, media and politicians, the visibility of geosciences as subject labs behind. Classic ways of public relations are still relevant, but we need additional, complementing communication instruments to transport gescientific topics. Such instruments are digital offerings. They are very attractive for younger people and technophile persons in general. They are easily accessible and a very useful medium to address our topics to the public. Additionally, they are up-to-date educational tools and can help to explain complicated geoscientific contexts in an understandable, modern and brisk way. As geoscientific museum we naturally use classic ways of communication – our exhibitions – but we also work on digital solutions to reach a wider audience and get people attracted. The granted project is a cooperation with the mobile database of OutcropWizard and the project 30 Geotope³ – Germanys most beautiful geosites in 3D, both developed at the Institute of Geosciences at the University of Bonn. We develop a tailor-made museum app that goes beyond the function of conventional applications. They usually give additional information about objects, provide short movies, audio sequences, etc. We develop the app to link exclusive objects in our showcases with their place of origin, guiding our visitors digitally from the museum into the field. Our guests will get the opportunity to explore different exciting geological sites across the country and to get in touch with the wide variety of geoscientific topics. We achieve this by implementing photogrammetric and laser-scanned 3D models of outstanding locations.