Completed 2024 Geoscience Knowledge Sharing
Watch an overview video about the Exploring for the Future Geoscience Knowledge Sharing project (2:44 min).
Through building trust, sharing knowledge and creating mutual understanding of how the program can benefit local communities, this project was key to the program's delivery of benefits for all Australians.
A major aspect of the Geoscience Knowledge Sharing project was the communication of the program's activities and benefits, with a particular focus on ensuring communities had the knowledge to provide informed consent about program activities in their region. This included working closely with schools and teachers on science education using educational materials, including an innovative mobile laboratory to support field data acquisition and community outreach activities.
The Geoscience Knowledge Sharing project was founded on the principles of genuine engagement, two-way communication and knowledge sharing. This included an exciting initiative to discover what remote and First Nations Australian communities could teach us about their priorities and perspectives in managing Country into the future. The project also facilitated the program to follow CARE1 principles for Indigenous Data Governance.
Geoscience Australia is committed to land, air and marine access best practice and to protecting cultural heritage and the environment. We endeavour to establish mutually respectful and transparent relationships with all stakeholders, including local landholders, land managers, Native Title holders, Traditional Owners and Custodians.
We do not undertake activities on behalf of any exploration company; we work for the benefit of all Australians.
1 CARE: Collective benefit, Authorised control, Responsibility and Ethics.
The project incorporated a number of activities, including:
We have developed a new mobile laboratory van that enables our scientists to rapidly analyse in-the-field samples with a suite of portable analytical instruments as well as providing engagement and education activities around Australia, including regional and remote communities through interactive science displays.
A suite of portable science displays, designed and built in collaboration with Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre, help explain some of the science and methods we use to map geology deep underground, inspiring users to think more about what lies deep beneath our feet.
The innovative mobile laboratory is equipped with power connections, including solar charged batteries, water tanks, retractable awnings, air-conditioning and powered tailgate lifter. Its modular interior design allows for benches, storage and equipment to be set up in the way to best suit the specific needs of the laboratory.
Geoscience Australia's new mobile laboratory
Visitors exploring some of the mobile laboratory's interactive science displays at the Royal Canberra Show, 24-26 February 2023
A series of 1-2 minute 2D animations provide easy to understand explanations of airborne and ground survey techniques, designed for non-technical audiences, such as landholders, land managers and general community that are impacted by our data acquisition activities. They show what the equipment looks like, how it works and what it is measuring, what the data looks like, and how it is used. There is no sound or voice over, allowing users to discuss them with audiences. (Playlist)
This 2D animation shows how stratigraphic drilling is conducted. It provides a simplified view of what stratigraphic drilling looks like, what the equipment measures, and how scientists use the data. (2:23 min)
This 2D animation shows how groundwater sampling is conducted. It provides a simplified view of what groundwater sampling equipment looks like, what the equipment measures, and how scientists use the data. (2:25 min)
Our case studies showcase our work, community stories, and emerging benefits and impacts of the Exploring for the Future program.
The Community and Education persona is designed for non-technical users, such as general community, students and educators, providing access to a curated set of geoscientific datasets and maps produced by the Exploring for the Future program, Geoscience Australia more broadly, and other agencies.
