GeoSpectrum

The next presentation in the U.S. Geological Survey’s public monthly lecture series, “Hurricanes and Our Changing Coasts” given by Dr. Asbury (Abby) Sallenger, will be held on Wednesday July 1, 2009 at 7:00 PM at the Dallas L. Peck Memorial Auditorium at the USGS headquarters.

In September 2008, Hurricane Ike destroyed nearly every house in the Gulf-front community of Gilchrist, just north of Galveston Texas. In addition to storm surge and battering waves, the land on which the houses were built contributed to the disaster by changing in shape and elevation. Dr. Sallenger will explain how the coast changes during extreme storms — such as Hurricanes Isabel, Katrina, and Ike — and what this means for our coastal developments today and in the future.

For more information on this topic, visit: Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms

Future lecture titles are:

• Climate Change 101 by Dr. Tom Armstrong
• Baked Alaska: What’s Happening to the Glaciers in Alaska by Dr. Bruce F. Molina

For more information on the monthly lecture series, visit the USGS website at http://www.usgs.gov/public_lecture_series/

Metcalf Lectures Focus on Global Change in Coastal Ecosystems

Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting is hosting its Annual Public Lecture Series, Scientists and Journalists: Getting the Point Across, from Monday, June 8, through Friday, June 12. This year’s program will feature nationally renowned specialists in research, environmental economics and journalism.

Monday’s lecture features William Schlesinger of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. He will discuss the value of taking an ecosystem-wide approach to investigating and addressing these impacts. On Tuesday, June 9, Colleen Charles of the U.S. Geological Survey will identify what climate change research is needed to better predict changes in ecosystems. Wednesday’s lecturer is Christophe Tulou, Resilient Coasts Initiative, who will discuss ways in which the world’s coastal cities can manage the risks of climate change.

On Thursday, Tom Rosenstiel will turn the discussion to journalism. Rosenstiel, of the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, will discuss what is really happening in journalism today. For the final lecture on Friday, June 12, John Reilly will confront the challenges to economists of estimating the costs of environmental damages. Reilly is from the Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change at the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management.

All lectures are free and open to the public.

The 2009 lecture series is presented concurrently with the Metcalf Institute Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists. These programs are made possible in part through generous support from Charlotte Metcalf, Pamela and J. Frederick Thye through the J. Frederick Thye Charitable Trust, Lucy Metcalf, Helen Buchanan, the Chicago Tribune Foundation, the Rhode Island Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sharpe, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. John Penney, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. W. Nicholas Thorndike, and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Coe Nicholson.

The Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting, a leading provider of science training for journalists, was established in 1997 with funding from Belo Corp., The Providence Journal Charitable Foundation, The Washington Post’s Philip L. Graham Fund, and the Telaka Foundation. The Metcalf Institute was named for the late publisher of The Providence Journal, Michael P. Metcalf and is based at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography.

Additional information is available online at http://www.metcalfinstitute.org or by calling (401) 874-6211.

100 years of discovery of the Burgess Shale

The Foundation takes great pride in presenting its centennial celebrations of the discovery of the Burgess Shale by Dr. Charles Doolittle Walcott. Throughout the summer, the BSGF has organized an extensive and diverse series of centennial events that will appeal to the professional geologist as well as interested members of the public. Programs are designed to engage stakeholders from all over the world, introducing them to the wonders of geology in one of the world’s most spectacular settings in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Activities include: guided hikes to the Burgess Shale fossil sites; a series of public lectures at venues ranging from Calgary, to Banff, to Golden, BC; geo/paleo art for kids; a historical re-enactment on horseback, and in period costume, of Walcott’s famous discovery; and a grand birthday and dance finale! There is something for everyone. For a complete listing of the 2009 Centennial activities and dates, please visit the Foundations website at http://www.burgess-shale.bc.ca.

The Young Earth Scientists for Society (YES) network, an association of earth scientists under the age of 35 years representing geological societies from around the world, in collaboration with the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE), is organizing a world congress for young earth scientists, policy makers, advisors and decision makers.

The conference will discuss global climate, environmental and geological challenges facing today’s society, and establish an interdisciplinary global network of individuals committed to solving these challenges.

The YES Congress will be held at the China University of Geosciences, in Beijing, China from 25-28 October 2009. Abstracts for contributed oral presentations, poster presentations, and roundtable symposia will be accepted until 30 March 2009. For more information visit http://www.yescongress2009.org/index.php.

The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed January 2007 to December 2009 as the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE). The proclamation of the year has served as a contribution to the UN sustainable development targets because it promotes sustainable use of Earth’s resources and encourages better planning and management to reduce risks for the world’s inhabitants. Making earth science knowledge accessible and promoting the development of the upcoming generation of earth-system scientists are two key goals of IYPE. The YES Congress is committed to forming an international network of young earth scientists, future policy makers, industry leaders, and media representatives to work together to solve the environmental challenges facing today’s society.

The American Geological Institute and the Geological Society of America are the U.S. organizations involved in the Young Earth Scientist Congress. The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 45 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.

The Geological Society of America, founded in 1888, is a scientific society with 22,000 members from academia, government, and industry in more than 90 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education.

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.

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.