Exposition ‘The Beauty and Diversity of Sand’

What do you envision when you think of sand? You probably think of the sand you know from the beaches you have visited, or the region you live in. But did you know that sand takes many different shapes and colours? Explore the beauty and diversity of sand in this exposition organized in collaboration with the World Soil Museum (ISRIC) and Impulse. Be fascinated by different sand profiles, photos of sandy landscapes, and jars filled with sand from the corners of the earth, and enjoy our planet’s richness of sand colours and appearances.

About ISRIC

ISRIC — World Soil Information, legally registered as the International Soil Reference and Information Centre, has a mission to serve the international community as custodian of global soil information. It is striving to increase awareness and understanding of soils in major global issues.

See https://wsm.isric.org/ for more information on the World Soil Museum.

About The World of Sand (21-28 May)

Sand. Ordinary and incredibly diverse. Beautiful. Omnipresent and becoming scarce at the same time. In this theme week, Studium Generale explores the many aspects of this versatile material. What it looks like, how it sounds, how we source it, what you can do with it and, especially, its growing scarcity and the consequences this has.

Did you know that sand is the most consumed raw material on earth after fresh water? And that your smartphone wouldn’t exist without it? It is used for buildings, infrastructure, glass, computers, cosmetics and detergents – omnipresent things in our daily lives. With visions of deserts in your mind it might be hard to imagine, but did you ever realize that sand is a finite source, and actually becoming scarcer? And that the increasing pressure on this resource may have serious implications, ranging from sand conflicts and ecological destruction, to compromised food production and flood protection?

Delve into the everyday and at the same time unknown world of sand, and explore its special nature and role from various angles. Admire its beauty and diversity, and find out why sand has so many different uses. Discover where we get it from and how we extract it. Learn about the social and ecological effects of sand extraction, and discuss what role science and policy could play in promoting sustainable sand use.