GEOSITES OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: A RESEARCH INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL GEOTOURISM AND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC GEOLITERACY

Because people enjoy experiencing the landscape, numerous opportunities exist to teach geotourists important Earth Science concepts. In Northern California, there are multiple sites in which important concepts, such as those identified as the Big Ideas of the Earth Science Literacy Initiative, could be targeted in informal geoscience education opportunities. The guiding research question in this investigation is,"Which potential geological sites in Northern California could promote Geotourism and provide effective geoscience education?"

This research is important since people in communities must have some basic level of understanding regarding Earth science principles in order to be able to cope with natural events. The Earth Science Literacy Initiative (2010) identified nine “Big Ideas” or concepts that deem a population ‘literate in the Earth Sciences.” These include the 4.6 billion year age of the Earth, the complexity of the Earth system, Earth’s changing features, the importance of water, the evolution and interaction of life forms, the human dependence on planet resources, the risks of natural hazards, and principals that guide scientific investigation. Informal geosites in California can effectively teach some of these concepts, if the geosites are effectively interpreted.

Numerous geosites (N= 82) in Northern California were visited, investigated, and analyzed for their potential to effectively convey important geoscience constructs in the informal environment. Many sites make excellent ‘outdoor’ classrooms and have been identified, along with the Big Ideas of the Earth Science Literacy Initiative. A summary of Northern California's geotourism potential, as well as the concepts that can be effectively addressed, will be summarized and presented.