| dc.description.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. | en_US |
