Geology is the science of reading and interpreting Earth’s story. Rock layers, which preserve evidence of a rich geological past, directly shape the present through geomorphology and landscape, soil formation, vegetation, human activity, and other living organisms. As such, bedrock constitutes the foundation of entire ecological systems, and the ability to identify rocks and minerals in the field, alongside an understanding of the processes that formed them, is a necessary first step in comprehending the natural environment.
Today, the public suffers from what may be termed “rock blindness”—a concept borrowed from botany—describing a condition in which rocks are perceived as a static background rather than as living evidence of geological processes spanning millions of years and actively influencing our world today. This blindness stems from limited accessibility, which includes, among other things, difficulty defining and identifying rocks based on texture or color, and a lack of available, reliable, and user-friendly field tools. Beyond amateurs, a significant gap also exists among professionals such as tour guides, ecologists, botanists, archaeologists, and farmers, for whom bedrock is an integral part of their work.
In response, the development of a field guide to minerals, rocks, and geological phenomena in Israel has been proposed, envisioned as a digital and/or physical platform that bridges micro- and macro-scale processes, fosters geological thinking, and enables real-time identification and process-based understanding in the field. As part of the project’s development and in preparation for the present conference, an online survey was conducted, with 445 respondents representing diverse ages, genders, and levels of expertise. Results reveal a substantial gap in accessible geological information for both professional and non-professional audiences, particularly in field-based contexts. Preferred platforms include a dedicated mobile application (72%), a printed field guide (65%), and an interactive website (50%). Regarding artificial intelligence, more than half of respondents do not use AI at all In geological contexts, while others use it for general geologic information (34%), and only a small minority (6–11%) for image- or text-based geological identification of minerals, rocks and fossils.
These findings highlight the urgent need for innovative tools that integrate accessible geological knowledge, technology, and artificial intelligence. This project represents an initial step toward the development of a broader range of platforms, activities, and research in science education and public engagement, with the aim of strengthening the human connection to land and nature in the digital age.