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Supercontinents, plate tectonics and ancient geological formations are just some of the highlights that are featured in a new eBook developed by the SPICE program, in the Centre for Learning Technology (CLT).

Changing Earth : The Darling Scarp tells the story of how 4.5 million year old geological features have been altered to create the Darling Scarp, backdrop to the modern city of Perth.  Key geological processes that led to the Darling Scarp's formation are explored, allowing readers to relate present day landscapes to events of the past. It is freely available from the Apple iTunes store .

Impetus for development of the eBook came from a desire to encourage Perth school students to appreciate the local landscape.  This project simmered alongside other work happening at SPICE for some time but eventually, as SPICE curriculum consultant  and project manager Bob Fitzpatrick said: "It all came together, with the CLT team creating text, videos, imagery and animations.

"UWA colleagues Dr Mary Gee and Dr Karl-Heinz Wyroll from the School of Earth and Environment, provided invaluable support with inspiring ideas and content reviews."  Indeed, Dr Gee says, "Not just a fascinating guide to ‘memorable moments' from the past 4500 million years of Earth's history, on a more ‘local' scale this is also an excellent source of information about the processes behind the landscape and ecosystems of the Darling Scarp area, Western Australia that I can recommend to anyone."

"It provides, in the vein of George Seddon, a real sense of place," Dr Wyroll said.

While the eBook is designed to explore key concepts relating to the Year 9 Australian Science curriculum, Earth and Space Sciences , it also makes fascinating reading for anyone who is interested in our local environment.

Changing Earth : The Darling Scarp explains how Earth processes, which come under the broad heading of Plate Tectonics, have resulted in landscape features as diverse as granite hills and sand dune formations. With the help of two UWA student presenters, Toby Travers and Sam Thiele, it also provides a virtual tour of key geological sites and insight into contemporary uses of the scarp and its environs.  Other highlights include vegetation patterns along the scarp, and predicted supercontinents of the future.

The SPICE program, which is an innovative partnership between the Western Australian Department of Education and The University of Western Australia hopes to develop a suite of eBooks that tell the geological stories of other regions in Western Australia.

Jan Dook

Associate Professor in Science Communication
Centre for Learning Technology