A digital platform for university education on geomorphosites

Abstract

International audience

The working group on Geomorphosites of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) is active since 2001 and has developed research activities on issues related to the geomorphological heritage (geomorphosites) (Reynard and Coratza, 2013). In parallel to the research activities, several intensive courses for Ph.D. and Master students have been organized since 2006 in various universities (Lausanne, Lesvos, Minho, Savoie, Beni Mellal) and a textbook for students was edited in 2009 (Reynard et al., 2009). The platform INTERGEO is prepared as a way to disseminate knowledge on geomorphological heritage, in particular in universities of developing countries where access to scientific papers and textbooks is not easy. It aims at improving students' autonomy by the reduction of frontal teaching and increasing autonomous learning as well as promoting international interactions between students interested in geomorphosite topics. The course, developed with the Learning Management System Moodle, is a completely free-access course. It is divided into four parts: (1) Generalities – definitions, links with heritage and landscape studies, active geomorphosites, the IAG working group; (2) Methods – selection and assessment, mapping issues, geomorphosite visualization, technical and digital tools in geomorphosite studies; (3) Conservation and promotion – example of geomorphosite studies related to geoconservation, geoparks, protected areas, World Heritage Sites, geotourism and interpretation, and natural hazards; (4) Examples – cultural, karstic, coastal, mountainous, fluvial, volcanic and anthropogenic geomorphosites. Each chapter contains a short description, a list of references, selected publications, as well as other educational material, e.g. videos, virtual fieldtrips, etc. In particular, several videos allow presenting in a very dynamic way concepts and examples. The content of the course will evolve and will be completed in the future. Most of the content is now ready and is tested by the six universities involved in the project during the academic year 2015–2016. Each university is using INTERGEO as a support for the specific courses on geoconservation and geomorphological heritage. Each team will then carry out fieldwork and will exchange on the results during a virtual international conference to be organized in Summer 2016 (the various teams will interact by video-conferences). The course will then be fully open-access by September 2016.