Geology Museum Presents Digital Learning Media

Bandung, W. Java, Sept 30 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Geology Museum, located in Bandung, West Java, presents digital learning media on geological resources such as oil and gas, coal, geothermal, water resources as well as metallic and non-metallic minerals. "The exhibition is presented with `geodigi,` a digital tool for presenting geological objects to make them more attractive and interactive," said Lutfi Zulkifli, a museum official, on Monday. He explained that the combination of geology and digital technology is an edutainment facility in which visitors can view geological resources in three-dimensional digital media. With such advanced media, Lutfi added that visitors can freely explore the field of geology in detail. The geological resources showroom presents different types of potential mineral and energy resources as well as groundwater. Mineral resources on display include various types of metal and non-metal minerals, including precious stones. Meanwhile, energy resources consist of conventional energy petroleum, natural gas and coal as well as geothermal as an alternative energy. According to Lutfi, the number of visitors to Geology Museum, which was inaugurated on May 16, 1929, is increasing from year to year. "In 2011, the number of visitors was 441,344, an increase from 2010, when the figure stood at 400,726," Lutfi noted, adding that junior high school students formed the largest segment of visitors, totalling around 120 thousand per year. He said the number is high because of the curriculum of secondary school education, which focuses on issues pertaining to Earth. The Geology Museum also attracts visitors from foreign countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Australia, and the United States. Additionally, Geology Museum features the history of life on Earth that includes the formation of lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, along with the development of a number of living things such as dinosaurs, elephants, and human beings. Indonesian geology is also exhibited in one of the exhibition halls, covering the development of Indonesian archipelago from 50 million years ago to the current state, according to the plate tectonics theory. The geological exploration activities in Indonesia began in 1850s, under the coordination of "Dienst van het Mijnwezen" or the Dutch Department of Mines. In 1928, "Dienst van het Mijnwezen" built "Geologisch Laboratory" in Rembrandt Straat, which is now called Jalan Diponegoro. The inauguration of the building on May 16, 1929, coincides with the 4th Pacific Science Congress in Bandung, which took place from May 18 to 24, 1929.