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AGI and Member Society Position Statements

The American Geosciences Institute and several of its member societies have adopted position statements on issues important to the geoscience community and relevant to public policy. This page provides links to those statements that are available on the Web. A separate page contains testimony delivered by AGI before Congress and federal agencies. We welcome input on any additional member society statements not on this list that are on the Web or could be made available.

Member Society Position Statement Web Pages
Association of American Geographers (AAG) Resolutions American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Position Statements Webpage American Geophysical Union (AGU) Position Statements American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) Position Statements and Policies Webpage Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) Papers and Position statements Association of American State Geologists (AASG) Position Statements Geochemical Society (GS) Position Statements Geological Society of America (GSA) Position Statements The Geological Society of London (GSL) Position Statements Mineralogical Society of America (MSA) Position Statements National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) Position Statements National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) Position Statements National Ground Water Association (NGWA) Position Statements Seismological Society of America (SSA) Public Policy Summary Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) Policy Statements Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Position Statements and Resolutions Back to top
Data Preservation and Access
Geological and Geophysical Data AAPG: Preservation of Geological and Geophysical Data (12/00) AASG: Sample & Data Preservation (11/04; reaffirmed 12/08) AGU: The Importance of Long-term Preservation and Accessibility of Geophysical Data (5/97; revised and reaffirmed 2/12) GS: Data Policy (11/07) GSA: Data Preservation (10/05; revised 5/09) GSA: Open Access to Data (5/05; revised 5/09) GSA: The Value of Geologic Mapping (11/03; revised 12/09) MSA: Preservation of Natural History Collections: Minerals and Rocks (10/09) SVP: Best Practices from the Ethics Education Committee Regarding Research, Publication, and Museum Work (PDF) (5/08) Fossils SVP: Guidelines from the Ethics Education Committee for Collecting, Documenting, and Curating Fossils SVP: Sale of Vertebrate Fossils Online (10/99) SVP: Paleontological Resources on U.S. Public Lands (joint statement with The Paleontological Society) (10/99) SVP: Hailing Fossil Preservation Bill SVP: Concern Over Possible Loss of Fossil Resources Public Land AAPG: Offshore OCS Leasing AAPG: Reformation of the Clean Water Act - Wetlands Access AAPG: Access to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (8/00) AIPG: Access to Public Lands (2/03) GSA: Integrating Geoscience with Sustainable Land-Use Management (5/09) SME: Access to Public Lands for Mineral Exploration (7/11) SVP: Paleontological Resources on U.S. Public Lands (joint statement with The Paleontological Society) (10/99) Back to top
Education
Earth Science Education AAG: Resolution Supporting K-12 Geography Education AGU: Earth and Space Science Should be Taught in K-12 Education (12/01; reaffirmed 2/12) GSA: Visas for Foreign Scientists and Students (5/05) GSA: The Importance of Teaching Earth Science in Schools (4/04; revised 10/11) GSA: Public Investment in Earth Science Research (4/11) GSA: Valuing Professional Contributions to Geoscience Public Policy and Education (5/01; revised 5/09) GSA: Expanding and Improving Geoscience in Higher Education (10/11) NAGT: Teaching Climate Change (11/08) NAGT: High School Earth Science Instruction (3/12) NESTA: The Importance of Earth Science Education K-12 (3/87; endorsed by AGI and 4 other societies) NESTA: Equal Opportunity in Earth Science Education (89) NGWA: Declaration of the Importance of Earth Systems Science Education (9/09) SVP: Statement about Louisiana's new "Science Education Act" Evolution in the Classroom AGI: Statement on Teaching Evolution (11/81; reaffirmed 12/03) AGU: The Scientific Theories of Biological Evolution and History of the Earth Should be Central Elements of Science Education (12/01; revised and reaffirmed 2/12) AWG: Science Curricula and the Teaching of Evolution in K-12 Classrooms (4/98; reaffirmed 3/07) GSA: Teaching of Evolution (5/01; revised 7/09) GSL: "Young Earth Creationism," "Creation Science," and "Intelligent Design" (4/08) NAGT: On Teaching Evolution (11/06) PS: Evolution (4/03) TSOP: Evolution Statement (2003) SVP: On Evolution (11/94) Back to top
Energy
Energy Policy AAPG: Geologic Carbon Storage AAPG: United States National Energy Supply AAPG: Natural Gas Supply Concerns (10/99) AASG: Energy (11/04; reaffirmed 3/11) AIPG: National Energy Policy (2/03) GSA: The Role of Government in Energy and Mineral Resources Research (4/11) NGWA: Geologic Carbon Sequestration (2/08) NGWA: Geologic Carbon Sequestration Rulemaking (8/09) SME: Coal's Importance in the U.S. and Global Energy Supply (9/12) SME: Meeting the U.S. Minerals and Metals Needs for Energy Production (4/12; revised 2/13) Oil and Gas Exploration AAPG: United States and Canadian Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Resources AAPG: National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Access (8/00) AAPG: Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Access (8/00) AAPG: United States National Energy Supply AAPG: Tax Reform (2/99) AAPG: Natural Gas Supply Concerns (10/99) AAPG: Offshore OCS Access AAPG: Oil and Gas Workforce Needs in the 21st Century (8/99) NGWA: Hydraulic Fracturing: Well Water vs. Oil and Gas (2/11) Nuclear Energy/Nuclear Waste AGU: The Capability to Monitor the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) Should be Expanded, Completed, and Maintained (9/09; revised and reaffirmed 2/12) GSA: Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Monitoring (10/09) SME: Nuclear Power (3/11) SSA: CTBT Position Statement (10/99; reaffirmed 2007) Back to top
Environment
Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Land Use AAPG: Reformation of the Endangered Species Act (9/99) AASG: Environmental Affairs (2/11) AIPG: Aggregate Resources and Land-Use Planning (2/03) SSSA: Carbon Sequestration (PDF) (10/01) SSSA: Agricultural Nutrient Management and Environmental Quality (PDF) (2/00) Climate Change AAG: Resolution Requesting Action on Climate Change (11/06) AAPG: Climate Change Policy (10/99) AAPG: Geologic Carbon Storage AIPG: Climate Change (9/08) AGI: Global Climate Change (1/99) AGU: Geoengineering Solutions to Climate Change Require Enhanced Research, Consideration of Societal Impacts, and Policy Development (12/09; revised and reaffirmed 2/12) AGU: Human Impacts on Climate (12/03; revised and reaffirmed 12/07, reaffirmed 2/12) GSA: Global Climate Change (10/06; revised 4/10) GSL: Climate Change (11/10) NAGT: Teaching Climate Change (11/08) NGWA: Ground Water Protection and Management Critical to the Global Climate Change Discussion (8/09) NGWA: Geologic Carbon Sequestration (2/08) SSSA, ASA, CSSA: Position Statement on Climate Change (6/11) SSSA: Carbon Sequestration Position Statement Water AAPG: Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing (8/99) AAPG: Reformation of the Clean Water Act - Wetlands Access (8/99) AASG: Ground Water (3/06; reaffirmed 2/11) AIPG: The Clean Water Act (5/11) AIPG: Ground Water Policy (5/11) AIPG: National Water Resources Policy (5/11) AIPG: The Safe Drinking Water Act (5/11) GSA: Water Resources (09/08) NGWA: Ground Water Protection (5/90; reformatted 9/09) NGWA: Ground Water Remediation (5/90; reformatted 8/09) NGWA: Role of Government in Ground Water Protection (5/90; reformatted 9/09) NGWA: Fostering Private Sector, Governmental Agency,and Institutional Cooperation on Ground Water Investigations (8/09) NGWA : Ground Water Sustainability (8/09) NGWA: Hydraulic Fracturing: Well Water vs. Oil and Gas (2/11) NGWA: Hydraulic Fracturing: Protecting Ground Water Resources (11/11) NGWA: The Ground Water Industry's Role (11/11) Back to top
Hazards
Natural AASG: Hazards (10/04; reaffirmed 2/11) AGU: Meeting the Challenges of Natural Hazards (12/96; revised and reaffirmed 4/12) GS: Statement Regarding the March 11, 2011, Earthquake and Tsunami (9/11) GSA: Geoscience and Natural Hazard Policy (10/05; revised 11/08) SSA: In Support of Improved Earthquake and Tsunami Hazard Mitigation (7/08) SSA: Resolution in Support of the Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System (7/08) SSA: Resolution in Support of the National Science Foundation's EarthScope Initiative SSA: Actions for Managing Earthquake Risk (7/08) SSA: Comment on the Reauthorization of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (6/09) Manmade AGU: The Capability to Monitor the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) Should be Expanded, Completed, and Maintained (9/09; revised and reaffirmed 2/12) SME: Mine Safety & Health (5/11) SSA: Capability to Monitor the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Position Statement (9/00; reaffirmed 7/08) Back to top
Natural Resources
AAPG: Reformation of the Clean Water Act - Wetlands Access (8/99) AAPG: Offshore OCS Access AAPG: Research & Development Needs (8/99) AASG: Mineral Resources (3/06; reaffirmed 2/11) AGU: The Ocean Sciences should be the Focus of Increased Education and Training, Policy Development, and Research Funding (12/05; revised and reaffirmed 2/12) AIPG: Domestic Mineral Resources (2/03) AIPG: Statement on Wetlands (2/03) GSA: The Government's Role in Energy and Mineral Resources Research (10/08) GSL: Rare Earth Element Briefing MSA: Preservation of Natural History Collections: Minerals and Rocks (10/09) MSA: Asbestos Statement (11/11) SME: Rare Earth Elements (6/11) SME: Improved Regulator Coordination to Ensure Responsible Mining & Environmental Protection (10/11) SME: Meeting the World's Future Mineral Needs (8/11; revised 2/13) SME: Mining and the Use, Quality and Availability of Water (6/12) Back to top
Science Policy
Science Policy AAPG: Research & Development Needs AASG: Geological Mapping (3/06; reaffirmed 9/08) AGI: Critical Needs for the Twenty First Century: The Role of the Geosciences (8/08) AGU: The Need for Balance between Small and Large Science (4/96; revised and reaffirmed 5/04) AGU: The U.S. Government has a Critical Role in Supporting Basic Research in the Earth and Space Sciences (5/98; revised and reaffirmed 2/12) GSA: The Government's Role in Energy and Mineral Resources Research (10/08) GSA: The Value of Geologic Mapping (11/03; revised 11/08) GSA: Valuing Professional Contributions to Geoscience Public Policy and Education (5/01; revised 5/09) GSL: How can Earth Scientists Meet the Needs of the Twenty First Century? (5/10) Ethics and Professional Issues AAG: Statement on Professional Ethics (11/09) AGI: Guidelines for Ethical Professional Conduct (4/99) AGU: AGU Supports Free and Open Communication of Scientific Findings (8/11) AIPG: Policy on the Exercise of Professional Judgement (3/98) AIPG: Policy on Relationships Between Professions (7/97) AIPG: Policy on State Registration/Licensing of Geologists (10/89; revised 6/07) AWG: Diversity in the Science, Engineering and Technology Workforce (PDF) (7/00) GSA: Diversity in the Geosciences (6/10) GSA: Maintaining the Benefits of Involvement by Federal Scientists in Scientific Society Leadership (12/07) GSA: Valuing Professional Contributions to Geoscience Public Policy and Education (5/01; revised 5/09) SVP: Statement on Ethics Back to top

Please send any comments or requests for information to the AGI Geosciences Policy at govt@agiweb.org.

Assembled by AGI/AAPG 2006 Spring Intern Jenny Fisher, AGI/AAPG 2005 Spring Intern Katie Ackerly, AGI/AIPG 2006 Summer Intern Carrie Donnelly, Rachel Bleshman AGI/AAPG 2006 Fall Intern, Liz Landau AGI/AAPG 2007 Fall Intern, Elizabeth Huss 2010 AGI/AIPG Summer Intern, Kimberley Corwin 2013 AAPG/AGI Spring Intern, and AGI Government Affairs staff.

Last updated March 11, 2013

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