Visualising the Benefits of Geodiversity

International Geodiversity Day 2025 is approaching, and many people worldwide have organised events based on their professional or personal connections with geodiversity; whether these be around understanding Earth’s history, unravelling intimate connections to biodiversity, or feeling the inspiration of a beautiful landscape.

It can be difficult, though, to communicate the importance of the non-living foundations of our landscapes to a wider public audience. Geology and sub-surface features are often hidden from view and so are ‘out of mind’. Many natural processes work on a much longer and slower timescale than our human experience can easily tap into. Geodiversity can seem to be rather static and it takes imagination and patience to ‘see’ its value and dynamism more clearly.

This conundrum is what inspired a team at The Open University in the UK to work with award-winning ‘artiscientist’ Dr Vicky Bowskill. Vicky’s work connects science and society through visuals, and working with the team of Postgraduate Research Student - Elaine Hooton, Professor Richard Holliman, and Dr Tom Argles, they were able to help visualise the benefits of geodiversity, otherwise known as ‘geosystem services’.

The co-created visual summary provides an imagined landscape with examples of key geosystem services. Regulation of water flow can be seen working its way through both overground and underground areas. The way in which rocks and soils can support biodiversity is highlighted, for both plants and animals. Quarrying and construction illustrates the way geodiversity provides resources for us to use whilst stick-folk are enjoying cultural connections with the landscape through adventure and art. Hidden in the rock layers beneath their feet, fossils lay waiting to be discovered; holding a key to advancing our knowledge of the Earth’s past, present and possible futures.

It is hoped that many people will enjoy the visual summary and that it helps audiences to picture ‘silent nature’ more vividly. The image is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY NC ND) enabling it to be shared widely and used alongside many wonderful geodiversity stories.

The visualisation, as well as the Geodiversity Day logos can be downloaded on our Google Drive.

This article is adapted from a press release by the Open University.