Sollicited speaker: Prof. M. Gray

In this session we would like to address the challenge of linking geodiversity and earth heritage to earth science research. Although the importance of both is increasingly recognized, they are still not fully addressed in scientific research and education. Unique landscapes and soils that are worthwhile to preserve for the next generations, often contain complex properties and relationships, and should therefore be addressed in a more holistic way. Therefore expertise and research from various disciplines should be combined. Another important aspect is to improve awareness and outreach of geoheritage and geodiversity to a wider public including (university) education.

We welcome those who want to contribute with examples of how universities are involved in geodiversity and earth heritage studies.
We specifically invite contributions on the following topics:
- examples of university programs (education, research) on geodiversity and geoheritage studies;
- methodological issues (assessment, classification, cartography, design)
- management issues (conservation, relationships with landscape and nature conservation and spatial planning).