Geoheritage Community Forum

• 2025 is ISAM's (Iziko) bicentenial year with lots of programs starting up on 18 May (International Museum Day) with a big launch on 11 June their "establishment day" • We will be running another GIFT teacher workshop this year on 16-17 August • Topic will be the Water Cycle • Starting a new Saturday kids science club at Iziko in June • VFT work is planned to start in mid-May in the Great Karoo with the Field Museum of Natural History and Iziko teams

Our team at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has been actively engaged in the development of virtual geological tours (VTs) featuring key outcrops of the Cape Granite Suite, Cape Supergroup, and Karoo Supergroup. The primary objectives of this initiative are threefold: to create comprehensive geo-education focused VTs that assist university students in preparing for in-person field excursions; to contribute visual content to the Geodyssey platform; and to produce tours hosted on Google Earth with more of an emphasis on geotourism and geoheritage. Since 2024, significant progress has been made. By integrating a range of software tools—including Pano2VR, PTGui, CapCut, Microsoft Clipchamp, and Sketchfab—we have refined our workflow to effectively utilise a DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine drone alongside an Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max equipped with a 3D LiDAR scanner and lavalier microphone. This streamlined approach enables the creation of fully interactive VTs without the need to transport bulky photographic or cinematic equipment into the field. We aim to showcase some of these VTs currently in development and would welcome suggestions for improvement. We are also keen to hear which specific outcrops the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA) would like us to document in terms of the geoheritage aspect.

Education and outreach activities through Puppet Planet NPC in August-October 2024: 1. GIFT Workshop with 55 teachers, Exploring Antarctica, weekend of 10-11 August at the Iziko Museum and Two Oceans Aquarium 2. International Astronomical Union General Assembly meeting sponsored childrens puppetry program Exoplanet Explorers, Iziko Museum, 7,8,12,13 August 2024 1. Launched two new robot puppet characters and a storyline on the search for life in the Universe 3. Fieldwork on new project with the Field Museum of Natural History (Chicago, USA), 4-7 September in Karoo near Neu-Bethesda 1. Recorded educational videos with scientist Claire Browning 2. Captured series of 360 panoramas of field sites 4. Paleontological Society of Southern Africa 22nd Conference, 8-12 September, Graaff-Reinnet 1. Set up a large booth promoting programs and selling palaeo projects that help support the program 2. Presented one talk and two posters 5. Heritage Day In_herit 2024 children's programs, Iziko Museum, Ancient Karoo Stones and Bones exhibit, 23, 24, 25 September and 5 October 6. Year of Antarctica children's afterschool program, Ukhanyo Primary School, Masiphumelele 1. First program 4 Oct on Hunting for Antarctic Meteorites 2. Second program scheduled for 25 Oct on Antarctic Dinosaurs and Fossils Action Items: 1. Continue website updates and start posting more on outreach 2. Plan for holiday programs at the Iziko Museum (Dec school holidays) 3. Promote new palaeo products into the Longbeach Mall Craft Market space 4. Plan for teacher workshop series to start in Feb at the Iziko Museum 5. Put together a welcome package for new members