Lutz Hecht, Cristiano Ferraris and Eleonora Paris (contact: eleonora.paris@unicam.it)

In the fast developing world, there is a growing need to approach Mineral Sciences using new ways to attract the interest and passion of young generations. Updating teaching methods and establishing closer collaborations among teachers, museums and universities, will allow to better communicate the importance of minerals in natural systems and their wide applications in technology, industry and environment. The session discusses established and future approaches of Mineralogy education of students, scholars and the general public. Natural history museums, public mineral collections, science centers and scholar labs play a specific role in supporting and promoting mineral science education. Although the focus is on mineralogy, contributions to other general aspects of public outreach in geosciences and planetology are welcome.