Gplates in Schools

The GPlates App is a powerful tool that enables users to reconstruct and visualise spatial data through geological time. Image: AuScope

The GPlates In Schools program (GISP) promotes geoscience education through its educational app, which enables students and citizen scientists worldwide to learn about plate tectonics, Earth processes, and Earth’s long-term climate.

Overview

Led by Dr Maria Seton and Professor Dietmar Müller from The University of Sydney, GISP is an initiative designed to provide interactive geoscience modelling visualisation to schools. This educational app is a valuable teaching resource, offering students a unique opportunity to explore GPlates and envision the possibilities of geoscience.

“The GPlates App is a free, low-tech, online educational resource designed to aid in the teaching of challenging concepts related to the deep-time evolution of our planet” - Dr Maria Seton, Project Leader

The challenge

Geology-focused educational materials often lack accessibility and inclusivity, hindering students' engagement, particularly those in regional areas or with disabilities. Lack of engagement has been shown to cause low perception of a topic, leading to misconceptions or misapprehensions, which has extended to Earth Science in recent times.

GISP addresses this challenge by providing an equally accessible educational tool for all students as it will enable the building and manipulation of geographic models to illustrate various Earth systems, helping students better understand them.

The outcomes

  • Development of the GPlates educational app and software packages to promote geoscience education and plate tectonics understanding 

  • Provision of interactive, high-quality geoscience modelling visualisation for schools, universities and government agencies

  • Provision of Software documentation and package tutorials

  • Delivery of Bi-Annual source code releases

What are the benefits

  • Enhanced Learning Outcomes: Gplate applications will enable users to interactively manipulate tectonic reconstructions, build topological plate models, and visualise subsurface data.

  • Better Community Engagement: Gplates not only aims to better engage students interested in Earth Sciences, but it also aims to serve as a tool for government organisations and researchers to explore Earth’s evolution

Who will benefit

Students, teachers, and citizen scientists worldwide will benefit from GISP. They will gain access to a comprehensive educational resource that enhances their understanding of plate tectonics and Earth processes. Additionally, the program will promote inclusivity and accessibility in STEM education, benefiting students regardless of geographical location.

Access

  • GPlates educational app | Google Play or Apple Store

  • Lesson plans are available on the GPlates website.

  • Education-focused publication on GPlates-in-Schools was presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in 2022 and the Australian Earth Science Convention in 2023.

Acknowledging AuScope

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This project was made possible by support from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) through AuScope.

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Project Name
Gplates in Schools

Project Lead
Dr Maria Seaton & Professor Dietmar Muller

Timeframe
2021 to 2023

Status
Complete

Funding
AuScope Pilots 3

Host
The University of Sydney

AuScope Programs

SAMAuScopePilot 3, Outreach, App, USYD