| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact Julie Jackson: (703) 379-2480 |
| July 15, 1998 | E-mail: jjackson@agiweb.org |
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earth Science Week gained Congressional recognition today when Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) entered the Earth Science Week resolution into the Congressional Record and also stated his support for the earth sciences. The resolution, issued by the Association of American State Geologists, designates the second week of October as Earth Science Week. This year is the first for this annual celebration of the earth sciences and their crucial role in society. The Congressional recognition comes after 14 state governors have proclaimed Earth Science Week.
"We are especially pleased that Sen. Wyden has taken a leadership role to bring this issue to the nation," says Donald Hull, state geologist and director of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. "The resolution recognizes, at the highest level of public policy formation, the importance of geologic understanding as a basis for reducing the risk of geologic hazards and for identifying needed energy, water, and other natural resources."
Hull adds that Sen. Wyden has a long history of supporting preparations to reduce the effects of geologic hazards and of supporting the state survey's efforts to map those hazards. In his statement, the senator said, "Today I want to recognize the important role played by the earth sciences in expanding our economy, supporting our national goals, and increasing our knowledge of the larger world."
Sen. Wyden's support of Earth Science Week in the Senate highlights the celebration's significance as well as the importance of the earth sciences, says David Seldin, a spokesman for Sen. Wyden's office. "More and more, issues are coming to the forefront that require a thorough understanding of how the Earth works," Seldin says. "Sen. Wyden thought it was important to highlight the contributions that geologists and other earth scientists make, through research and education, to finding solutions for some of our country's most difficult decisions."
The governors of 14 states — Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, and Vermont — have already issued Earth Science Week proclamations, and more are expected. The foundation of each proclamation is that geology and the earth sciences are fundamental to society and to our quality of life. Citizens who understand geology and the earth sciences can make wise decisions for land use and management. The earth sciences are crucial for addressing environmental and ecological issues and provide the basis for preparing for and mitigating natural hazards.
Earth Science Week is one of the American Geological Institute's most ambitious 50th anniversary initiatives. Geoscience organizations and individual geoscientists have responded enthusiastically to the idea. Schools, universities, museums, state geological surveys, and AGI member societies are planning Earth Science Week events. "The goal for Earth Science Week," says AGI President Susan Landon, "is to have every geoscientist in the country do something in his or her community to promote the earth sciences." As sponsor of Earth Science Week, AGI is a clearinghouse for ideas, activities, and special events, and provides support materials that make it easy for volunteers to participate.
Information about Earth Science Week, as well as a copy of the Association of American State Geologists resolution, is available from the American Geological Institute and on the World Wide Web at http://www.earthsciweek.org. To see Sen. Wyden's statements, go to "Proclamations."
The American Geological Institute, founded in 1948, is a not-for-profit federation of 32 professional organizations in the earth sciences representing more than 100,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other earth and environmental scientists.