By In a bid to address the global shortage of earth scientists, Seequent, The Bentley Subsurface Company, has launched a free web application called Visible Geology. This innovative app aims to teach earth science students how the earth works in 3D, offering an immersive and intuitive gaming experience. Developed in collaboration with CerebralFix, a game development studio known for creating interactive digital experiences, Visible Geology is set to revolutionize the way earth science is taught, moving beyond traditional 2D and paper-based methods.
Addressing the Workforce Crisis
The launch of Visible Geology comes at a critical time when universities around the world are experiencing a significant decline in earth science enrollments. In Australia, there has been a 40% drop in geoscience students over the past eight years, while the UK has seen a 43% decrease since 2014. The American Geosciences Institute predicts a workforce deficit of 130,000 geoscientists by 2030. This shortage poses a serious threat to our understanding of the earth’s resources and our ability to tackle global challenges such as climate resilience and the energy transition.
Seequent’s CEO, Graham Grant, emphasized the importance of inspiring the next generation of earth scientists. “At Seequent, we are passionate about inspiring the next generation of earth scientists. We know how critical earth scientists are to understanding the earth’s resources and solving some of the world’s most urgent and complex challenges,” said Grant. By making Visible Geology available for free, Seequent hopes to attract more students to the field and address the looming workforce crisis.
Innovative Learning Experience
Visible Geology offers a unique and engaging learning experience that combines the principles of gaming with earth science education. The app allows students to explore and experiment with geological concepts in a 3D environment, making it easier to understand complex topics. The intuitive interface and immersive experience are designed to make learning fun and accessible to everyone, regardless of their background in earth science.
The app was developed with the expertise of CerebralFix, a game development studio that has worked with entertainment giants like Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks. CerebralFix Co-CEO Chelsea Rapp highlighted the transformative potential of video games in education. “Video games have an incredible ability to transform education by blending immersive experiences with interactive learning. They are much more than just entertainment; applications like Visible Geology are dynamic tools that empower learners to explore and experiment in ways that traditional methods cannot match,” said Rapp.
Global Impact and Future Prospects
The launch of Visible Geology is expected to have a significant impact on earth science education worldwide. By providing a free and accessible tool for learning, Seequent aims to reach a broad audience and inspire more students to pursue careers in earth science. The app’s innovative approach to teaching has already garnered positive feedback from educators and students alike.
Dr. Kate Pedley, a geology lecturer at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, was part of the Visible Geology testing process with her students. She praised the app’s ease of use and its ability to build understanding in a way that traditional 2D maps cannot. “Visible Geology is intuitive and easy to use. Students can play around with it and have a bit of fun, and it builds understanding in a way that complicated 2D maps can’t,” said Dr. Pedley.
As the demand for earth scientists continues to grow, initiatives like Visible Geology are crucial in addressing the workforce shortage and ensuring that we have the expertise needed to tackle the challenges of the future. By leveraging the power of technology and gaming, Seequent is paving the way for a new era of earth science education.