Design of Discovery Center with a Geopark Theme in Tongging Village, Karo Regency

Abstract

A Discovery Center is a modern alternative to a traditional museum, offering visitors an interactive learning experience. Unlike passive museums, a Discovery Center allows visitors to engage directly with knowledge, practice hands-on learning, and develop self-motivation (Gouli & Jeewasmi, 2019; Gotwald, Beata, & Marlena, 2018). Its primary functions include providing education on geology, ecology, and local culture, promoting sustainable tourism, and conducting research and development for geopark conservation. A Geopark, as defined by Stoffelen, Groote et al. (2019), is a geographically significant area managed for conservation, education, and sustainable development. Tongging Village, part of the UNESCO-recognized Toba Caldera Geopark, holds great potential but has yet to fully optimize its land use for geopark-related aspects (N. Ginting & H. Lubis, 2020). The development of a Geopark-themed Discovery Center in Tongging Village could maximize land utilization, support sustainable tourism, and enhance the local community’s economic well-being.