Geoheritage - Call for Papers - Jurassic heritage: balancing science, education and conservation

As awareness of our shared geological heritage, and the need for its wise management for future generations has grown - not least due to the development of Geodiversity as a parallel concept to Biodiversity - so has the responsibility for organisers of all field-based studies to be aware of and follow all the ethical and legal principles and regulations now in place. Historically, many have regarded such issues as restrictions, which could even ‘inhibit’ scientific progress - an attitude which regrettably persists in some quarters, with some specialists still choosing to publish on illegally collected, exported and traded geological materials. Although it is still true that some poorly informed legal structures still present significant issues for bone-fide field-based scientific studies, the reality is that most systems now in place have been developed with an awareness of the needs of geoscientific research and include mechanisms to permit, even encourage, such studies. Crucially, such systems now often extend to institutional collections, ensuring that any collected material of continued scientific importance can also be safeguarded for future generations of geoscientists to restudy and re-assess. In effect, these systems now help conserve our science by helping ensure that many of the most important sites and collections for Jurassic stratigraphy and palaeontology are protected in a way that continued research sampling and study remains possible and is even encouraged.

This contrasts starkly with regions and countries where such protection is not enforced, and as a result, localities, even some listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, can be openly mined and marketed to supply a burgeoning global trade in ‘trophy’ fossils. In such regions, the aims and challenges of geological and palaeontological science come a poor second to market forces and a manipulated perception of actual or potential local economic benefits (and in some cases it is even possible to calculate an indicator of the level of scientific loss). Despite whatever is the reality ‘on-the-ground’, however, it is still crucial to raise public awareness of geological heritage and its relevance to society and culture through educational programmes and popular media, and such tools should be key elements of any conservation practice.

The aim of this Thematic Set, therefore, is to explore all aspects of the conservation of Jurassic geological heritage, both in-situ and ex-situ (i.e. in all types of ‘collection’), including its legal and ethical context, not least to evaluate its benefits or disbenefits for the future of all aspects of studies on the Jurassic System. Crucially, as educational, public awareness and other engagement programs – including through social media – are now key tools for promoting awareness, and hence support for science, contributions on such initiatives as applied to the Jurassic System are also encouraged.

Deadline for submissions: 31 March 2024

(Note: Due to Geoheritage’s Continuous Article Processing procedure, all articles will be immediately published online following acceptance by the Guest Editors)

Guest Editors

Kevin N. Page
Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, UK
e-mail: kevinnpage@gmail.com (this opens in a new tab)

Robert Weis
Associate researcher and collection manager, National Museum of Natural History, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
e-mail: rweis@mnhn.lu (this opens in a new tab)