GeoSpectrum

The American Geological Institute (AGI) is sponsoring a new, fourth contest in conjunction with both Earth Science Week and The International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE).

In addition to the Photo, Essay, and Visual Art contests offered each year as part of Earth Science Week, a new global photography contest, “Exploring Earth Science Around the World” has been developed. This competition is open to anyone worldwide with images eligible from anywhere around the world – all in celebration of IYPE.

Entrants are encouraged to submit images that highlight the beauty and power of the earth processes. Pictures of landforms, bodies of water, weather, and more that depict the geosciences exploration and research that is occurring across the planet as part of IYPE are ideal.

To learn more about this contest, including rules for submissions, deadlines, and prizes, visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/iypephotocontest/.

The key educational support product for Earth Science Week 2008 (October 12-18) is the Toolkit that enables teachers, students, and the public to explore this year’s theme “No Child Left Inside.” The 2008 edition of this resource is now available through the American Geological Institute (AGI).

The 2008 Toolkit contains several resources developed by AGI, including the new editions of the Earth Science Week Activity Calendar and classroom poster with activities suitable for all ages provided by AGI, its Member Societies and other organizations. In addition to these traditional Toolkit publications, this year AGI’s education department teamed with Walden Media to create a “Journey 3-D” educator guide with 3-D glasses to explore where science fact meets science fiction in the movie “Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D.”

Several other organizations contributed materials for inclusion in the Toolkits. The U. S. Geological Survey provided a 3-D geosciences poster. NASA supplied a CD-ROM of Earth Observations from Space. NOAA provided climate literacy information while ESRI included a CD-ROM on GIS technology and activities. A field notebook with an activity from Rite in the Rain is also part of each Toolkit.

These items and much more can be found in each Earth Science Week Toolkit aimed at engaging the students and general public in exploring the geosciences. The Toolkits are available for the cost of shipping and handling ($6.95 in the United States). Bulk pricing is available. To order, visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/materials/.

Earth Science Week is an annual event held the second week of October to promote an understanding and appreciation of the earth sciences. It is coordinated by the American Geological Institute with generous support from the U.S. Geological Survey, the AAPG Foundation, and the National Park Service. To learn more about this event, please visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/.