Global Geopark are special areas where the geological heritage, or
geodiversity, is of international importance. Global Geoparks are thus encouraged
to work with academic institutions to engage in active scientific research in
the Earth Sciences, and other disciplines as appropriate, to advance our
knowledge about the Earth and its processes. A Global Geopark is not a museum,
it is an active laboratory where people can become engaged in science from the
highest academic research level to the level of the curious visitor. However, a
Global Geopark must take great care not to alienate the public from science and
absolutely must avoid the use of technical scientific language on information
boards, signs, leaflets, maps and books which are aimed at the general public.