Every year on 6th October, people all over the world celebrate International Geodiversity Day (IGD). It’s a special day to remind us that the Earth has amazing stories to tell – and this year’s theme is:
One Earth, Many Stories
Rockwatch is super excited to join in with this year’s celebrations together with Dr Anjana Khatwa, an award-winning earth scientist who has just published an incredible book all about the stories hidden in rocks!
What is Geodiversity?
Think of geodiversity as all the stuff that makes up the non-living part of our planet. That means:
- Rocks, minerals, fossils, and soils
- Rivers, lakes, mountains, and landforms
- The natural processes (like volcanoes, erosion, or earthquakes) that shape our planet
UNESCO explains it simply: geodiversity is everything on Earth that isn’t alive – but it still shapes our lives in huge ways. Humanity has always depended on geodiversity, from the stone tools our ancestors used to the resources we rely on today.
🌐 What is International Geodiversity Day?
UNESCO created this day so everyone, everywhere can learn how important geodiversity is for life on Earth.
It’s about:
- Understanding how geodiversity, biodiversity, and human diversity are all connected
- Finding new ways to solve big challenges like climate change, poverty, hunger, and natural disasters
- Learning how to use Earth’s resources sustainably so future generations can enjoy them too
2025 Theme: One Earth, Many Stories
Every rock, every fossil, every landscape tells a story. These stories go back over 4 billion years, showing us how Earth was shaped and how life evolved.
This year’s theme is an invitation to:
🔍 Explore your local landscape – a cliff, a hill, or even a pebble in your garden might hold a story.
🏛️ Visit museums or historic buildings where rocks have been used.
🌍 Discover how geodiversity links to today’s challenges, like protecting our planet from climate change.
Geodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals
International Geodiversity Day also highlights the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a global plan to make the world a better place. They include:
- Ending poverty and hunger
- Protecting life on land and in water
- Fighting climate change
- Creating sustainable cities and communities
- Promoting clean energy and good education
Geoscientists – and maybe future you – play a big role in reaching these goals by helping us understand Earth and how to care for it.
Rockwatch and IGD
At Rockwatch, we want to inspire younger geologists to explore the wonders of our planet. We do this by:
- Running field trips where you can get muddy, hunt fossils, and see rocks up close
- Publishing our fun-filled Rockwatch Magazine packed with fascinating geology stories (many written by members like you!)
- Sharing exciting events like this one, to connect you with Earth’s stories and scientists who study them
- Running competitions encouraging you to deep dive into a geology topic that fascinates you
Dr Anjana Khatwa and The Whispers of Rock
Dr Anjana Khatwa – a brilliant scientist and TV presenter – has spent her life uncovering the secrets of rocks. Her new book, The Whispers of Rock, takes us on a breathtaking journey through deep time:
🌋 From fiery volcanoes in the Andes
⛏️ To fossil-filled cliffs on the Dorset coast
✨ And even to ancient Indigenous stories that bring landscapes alive
She shows us that rocks don’t just shape the world – they shape us. Her message is powerful: if we take time to listen, the Earth will whisper its wisdom to us.
To mark the year’s International Geodiversity Day, Rockwatch is celebrating with a special treat:
An exclusive YouTube interview with Dr Anjana Khatwa, plus
Anjana’s inspiring article on how YOU can join in, become a rock whisperer, and celebrate the amazing geodiversity around us.
Here’s how you can take part in Geodiversity Day:
✅ Watch Anjana’s interview on our YouTube channel
✅ Read her article full of ideas on celebrating
✅ Have fun with these cool rock activities
✅ Share your own celebrations with us on social media
