Geoscience covers all aspects which include highly complex processes occurring on the Earth, the resources required for our existence (fresh water, air, energy, soil, ocean, and industrial raw materials), and the study of the causes of natural disasters on the Earth. It is vital for humans in general.
Geosciences education includes all the sciences having efforts of researching, learning and teaching the natural features of the Earth, such as geology, geophysics, climatology – meteorology, hydrology, pedology, physical geography, geomorphology, oceanography, cartography, ecology.
The main goal of Geosciences education is to enable people living on the Earth to have knowledge about the natural processes that shape the physical environment and to understand how people’s actions have an impact on the Earth on a local, regional and global scale.
Unfortunately, most of the people living on the Earth are not aware of how the earth works, what natural resources it has and what kind of global crises it will cause in the future. It is important for everyone to be aware of the operating system of the earth, its resources and the disasters it causes, and to grow as a literate and responsible world citizen in terms of Earth sciences in order to make the best use of the resources offered by the Earth, to overcome the natural disasters with the least loss and damage.
It is necessary to inform and raise awareness of people about various threatening events (Earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcano eruption, global warming, fresh water resources, etc.) that develop depending on the functioning system of the Earth and natural resources at the beginning of their education.
In primary and secondary education institutions in Türkiye, unfortunately, Geosciences, cannot take place in a comprehensive manner in the curriculum. Earth sciences education in primary and secondary education is mainly given in a very limited way in the form of theoretical courses without practice and discussion. Research-based learning and teaching skills are insufficient. Students memorize theoretical information and numbers without any observation and analysis. Therefore, students cannot associate what is being taught in the classroom with what they see around them. In addition, since school teachers are not sufficiently trained in Earth sciences, they are inadequate in teaching using both theoretical and field observations, which are indispensable for Earth sciences education.
the Geoscience Education Working Group (YEÇG) , which will operate on a voluntary basis was established in December 7, 2019 in order to increase awareness of Earth Sciences in society after the proposal of Prof. Dr. Nizamettin KAZANCI, the Turkish representative of the International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO).