A team of researchers from the Women and Geology Committee of the Geological Society of Spain (SGE), including Davinia Moreno, a researcher at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), has published an article in the journal Enseñanza de las Ciencias de la Tierra analysing the development and impact of My First Geoloday, a science outreach project that introduces children to the Earth sciences through hands-on activities, games and immersive experiences.

Since its launch in 2023, My First Geoloday has held four editions across seven Spanish provinces — Alicante, Burgos, Granada, Lugo, Madrid, Segovia and Zaragoza — bringing together more than 2,250 children in over 100 free activities aimed primarily at primary school children.

The initiative seeks to spark children’s interest in geology from an early age by introducing them to the daily work of geologists and research groups. It also aims to promote critical thinking and help children understand the importance of the Earth sciences in addressing challenges such as climate change, natural resource management and the conservation of geological heritage.

Learning geology through experience

Moving away from traditional science communication formats, My First Geoloday transforms museums, parks, public squares and other public spaces into small Earth Science Fairs, where children become the protagonists.

They can handle fossils, minerals and rocks, take part in experiments, games and interactive workshops, follow geological trails and discover how research groups carry out their work.

The activities cover a wide range of disciplines, including palaeontology, hydrogeology, geodynamics and palaeoclimatology. In a fun and relaxed environment that encourages curiosity and direct experimentation, children learn why earthquakes occur, how volcanoes work, how the climate has changed throughout Earth’s history and why it is important to conserve geological heritage.

Alongside promoting scientific knowledge, the project seeks to normalise the presence of women in geology, encourage learning through experimentation and bring science to rural communities and people with different abilities through free and inclusive activities.

More than 65% of the people involved in delivering the outreach activities are women, and all the national and provincial coordinators are women.

Burgos joins My First Geoloday

Davinia Moreno’s involvement in the Women and Geology Committee led to Burgos joining the project. She coordinated the first two editions held in the city, in 2025 and 2026, with the support of CENIEH’s Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit (UCC+I), helping to extend the geographical reach of this national science outreach initiative.

“When I joined the Women and Geology Committee, I knew that a project such as My First Geoloday should also come to Burgos. The province has an extraordinary geological and palaeontological heritage, and CENIEH is the ideal place to introduce that wealth to local schoolchildren,” explains Moreno.

The first Burgos edition was held at CENIEH in 2025 and brought together nearly 50 primary school children for a series of geology workshops and activities. Following its positive reception, the 2026 event was expanded to include the general public and was held at the Estación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología.

“The response in Burgos confirms that there is enormous interest in this kind of activity. For the second edition, we wanted to go a step further and open it up to all families, while keeping the project free of charge so that every child can discover geology, regardless of their background or financial circumstances,” says Moreno.

A science outreach model with nationwide impact

The article, entitled “My First Geoloday: geology outreach for primary school children”, shows that the project has achieved not only high levels of participation but also considerable coverage in the media and on social networks.

During its first three editions, the initiative generated more than 70 appearances in the press and on radio, over 300 mentions on digital platforms and a total reach of more than 5.5 million people. It has become one of Spain’s leading geology outreach initiatives for children.

The authors conclude that the project’s model — based on play, experimentation and direct contact with researchers — is a highly effective way of sparking an interest in science from an early age and bringing research closer to society.

The addition of new locations, including the Burgos programme coordinated through CENIEH, has also helped extend the project to new areas, enabling an increasing number of children to discover geology in an accessible, participatory and enjoyable way.