Slovenia's geological centre helps develop new Minecraft mod

BetterGeo aims to improve knowledge of geology for the society and raise awareness about sustainable use of minerals among the young through gaming, the institute said in a written statement.

As global demand for raw materials is rising fast, so is the need to inform the public about the role of geological sciences for the society's development.

With innovative tools and teaching approaches such as gamification, it is possible to develop and enhance the interest in topics such as geology, raw materials, sustainable development or circular economy among the young, the Geological Survey added.

The new version of the BetterGeo mod features new blocks, features and achievements, immersing the gamer into the world of raw materials to learn more about geology, natural resources, and metals vital for the energy transition. "It takes the gamer for a hunt for minerals where rocks, minerals and raw materials are a valuable asset."

The BetterGeo project was originally an initiative of the Swedish government designed to raise the awareness about the role of geology, and Slovenia's institute has worked on it since 2017.

The BetterGeoEdu project features eight partners and is now financed by EIT RawMaterials, which is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

The other partners are the Geological Survey of Sweden, Italy's Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Austria's Montanuniversität Leoben, Estonia's Tallinn University of Technology, Trinity College Dublin from Ireland, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid from Spaind and Universite de Liege from Belgium.