GeoSpectrum

Why Earth Science is so Important

Originally posted on Discovery Earth Live TM

As Hurricane Ike slammed into the Texas gulf coast late Friday, humankind again confronted powerful forces of nature and the limits of our ability to withstand them. The city of Galveston, wiped out on September 8, 1900 by The Great Storm as it was called, faced the unthinkable a second time 108 years later, almost to the day.

As assessments of damage and loss of life are reported from the Gulf Coast, the city of Houston, and surrounding areas, we’re grateful for modern advances and the efforts of public safety officials, knowing things could have been much worse. Those of us not struggling to survive and put life back together can also reflect on our relationship with this amazing planet.

Earth in all its complexity is a beautiful, bountiful place that supports life in myriad ways. Its water, soils, climate, and other resources permit life to flourish. At the same time its natural processes such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and other hazards threaten life.

Humankind will continue to thrive if we increase our knowledge and understanding of Earth, as well as our respect for it. To that end, geoscientists and others from Albania to Zambia are raising awareness of the earth sciences and the role they play in improving our health, prosperity, and safety.

International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) is an initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization and the International Union of Geological Sciences. A triennium event spanning 2007-2009, IYPE was officially launched in Paris in February.

Under the theme “earth sciences for society,” 73 countries are participating with science programs and outreach events. Each national committee is focused on topics most relevant to the country in which they live. Subjects range from sustainable resource development to reducing risks associated with natural and human-induced hazards.

Geoscientists have always known the benefits of their work for the global community and its quality of life. We also know we need to do a better job of sharing our knowledge and experience with others who can use it to the greater benefit of society.

Ten science themes of IYPE reflect the broad areas in which earth sciences have much to contribute:

• Groundwater – Toward sustainable use
• Hazards – Minimizing risk, maximizing awareness
• Earth & Health – Building a safer environment
• Climate – The record in rocks, sediment, and ice
• Resources – Toward sustainable use
• Megacities – Going deeper, building safer
• Deep Earth – From crust to core
• Ocean – Abyss of time
• Soils – Earth’s living skin
• Earth & Life – Origins of diversity

As challenges associated with population growth, availability of fresh water, and competing global demands for energy, mineral, and other resources increase, the need for geoscientists grows. Through IYPE we hope to ignite the interest of young people around the world, encouraging them to study the earth sciences and contribute their ideas and energy to this great work.

To learn more about International Year of Planet Earth and activities around the world, visit www.yearofplanetearth.org

Larry Woodfork is Chairman of the Board of Directors of International Year of Planet Earth. He is a professional geologist with many years of experience focused on geology in the public interest. He currently divides his time between a consulting practice in energy development and service to several not-for-profit organizations.

Geotimes magazine, the flagship publication of the American Geological Institute (AGI), will become EARTH magazine beginning with the September 2008 issue.

Geotimes has delivered the earth science news to the professional community for over 52 years. Since 1999, the magazine has been transformed to become the voice of the geosciences for the general public, while still covering the latest developments within the geosciences.

The content and news coverage Geotimes readers have come to enjoy is expanding. EARTH will continue to explore the science behind the headlines in the areas of earth, energy, the environment, but with 25% more pages of materials, enhanced visual appeal, and an increasingly diverse mix of topics in each issue.

As part of this exciting transition, AGI has enlisted the services of Oehler Media, Inc., to expand the distribution of EARTH to newsstands and bookstores across the U.S. and Canada. For 14 years, Oehler Media has launched or re-launched over 100 magazines nationwide with spectacular results.

For more information, visit http://www.earthmagazine.org which will take you to http://www.geotimes.org until September 1, 2008, at which time EARTH makes its official debut.

Watch the latest Geotimes Videocast covering the opening of the new Smithsonian exhibit “Dig It.”   Sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America, “Dig It!” includes interactive displays, hands-on models, videos and soil samples.  Learn what Geotimes writer, Cassandra Willyard thought about this important exhibit by visiting http://www.geotimes.org/webcasts/article.html?id=SmithsonianSoil.html.

“Dig It! The Secrets of Soil,” is a new 5,000-square-foot exhibition opening to the public on July 19, 2008 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America, “Dig It!” includes interactive displays, hands-on models, videos and soil samples which encourage visitors to learn about different soil types from every state, and around the world.

To learn more about this exhibit, visit http://www.soils.org/smithsonian

A “Dig It!” reception will be held Friday afternoon, July 18. Join (invited) USDA Secretary Ed Schafer, Under Secretary Mark Rey, NRCS Chief Arlen Lancaster, and the dozens of NRCS employees involved in the project. Please go to https://www.soils.org/smithsonian/files/dig-it-flyer.pdf to view the invitation.

In celebration of the Dig It! opening, the U.S. National Committee for Soil Science will host a Soils Symposium, Friday morning, July 18 at the National Academy of Sciences, Washington DC. Co-sponsored by SSSA and the International Union of Soil Science, “Soil: Sustaining Life on Planet Earth,” will feature: David Montgomery, Rattan Lal, Diana Wall, and Daniel Richter.
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/usnc-ss/Soil_Sustains.html

Geotimes Online continues to add Videocasts to its website. These short new clips highlight recent research, previews of future magazine features, and report on geologic events. To view the Videocasts visit the Geotimes website at http://www.geotimes.org and look under Web Extras. While visiting the Geotimes site you can also read feature articles, participate in the monthly poll, and keep up to date on the latest earth science news.

The American Geological Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce the first Geotimes videocast, available both through http://www.geotimes.org and YouTube. The premiere videocast takes a look at the current developments related to the Chaitén eruption in Chile.

Geotimes Online is now producing original videocasts of Earth-related news. The videocasts will cover current geologic news, including natural disasters, current research and public policy affecting the geosciences. Anchored by staff writers of the magazine, the videocasts supplement Geotimes’ regular earth science news items throughout the month.

To view the latest posting as well as to read features from the magazine and view other Web Extras, please visit http://www.geotimes.org/.

Keep up to date with the latest happenings in earth, energy and environment news by checking out Geotimes online at http://www.geotimes.org. Published by the American Geological Institute, Geotimes is your source for news and perspectives on research, technology and policy that affect you every day. Sign up for E-alerts, our short, weekly e-mails that alert subscribers to new content posted on the Geotimes Web site, and subscribe to the magazine at http://www.geotimes.org.

The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 44 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society’s use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.