Earth-Science News of 1995 in Review, What's Ahead for 1996

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact Sandra Cleva: (703) 379-2480
February 8, 1996	E-mail: geotimes@agiweb.org

Earth-Science News of 1995 in Review, What's Ahead for 1996

ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- Traditionally, GEOTIMES devotes an entire issue to a review of earth-science developments during the preceding year. In the current February issue, 44 geoscientists* provide their assessments of major developments taking place in 1995 across a wide range of disciplines: surficial studies, paleobiology, micropaleontology, natural resources, environmental and engineering geology, oceanography, solid-earth studies, and rocks and minerals. *Names of contributing authors follow.

In "Comment," Robert D. Hatcher Jr., 1996 President of the American Geological Institute, suggests how earth scientists can meet the challenges of an evolving profession as it moves into the 21st century. "We must pull together as a community," he states. "Geoscientists must act collectively and become more proactive in communicating with our elected representatives at all levels of government...." Addressing educators, Hatcher urges more emphasis on quality teaching and less dependence on federal grants, describing them as "addictive and dangerous to the long-term health of academic institutions." For the future, he concludes that geoscientists must make opportunities and take opportunities to become part of the decision-making process -- if they want their profession to survive.

The February issue also provides a forum for policy-makers to address national and international issues of concern to the earth-science community as a whole. Chief among these issues may be the need to promote science literacy throughout all levels of the general population. Writing on behalf of the National Science Foundation, Luther S. Williams, head of the Education & Human Resources Directorate, reports that the agency is committed to creating an infrastructure which will provide certified teachers, expanded curricula, and updated materials to the nation's schools.

The changing focus of federal science and technology policy in the post-Cold War era is another major concern to geoscientists. The National Research Council's Board on Earth Sciences and Resources reports that its mandate is to respond to requests from federal agencies as they redefine their missions, restructure their programs, and become more responsive to customer needs and societal goals. "If recent history is a reliable guide, then the next few years are likely to see programs cut, agencies abolished or consolidated, and perhaps whole federal departments eliminated," predicts Director Craig M. Schiffries.

Coming up ... the March issue of GEOTIMES examines the impact of government policy on the geosciences. Executive branch administrators and Republican congressional leaders share their views on the role of geology in government and the uncertain future of federal support for earth-science research.

GEOTIMES is published by the American Geological Institute, a nonprofit federation of 29 member societies representing earth and environmental scientists. AGI also produces GeoRef, an online bibliographic database of more than 1.9 million geological references that serves a worldwide geoscience community.

Contributing Authors, GEOTIMES Annual Highlights Issue: OUTLOOK National Research Council, Craig M. Schiffries Education Reform and the Geosciences, Luther S. Williams K-12 Education, B.J. Brunkhorst Geoscience Information, Barbara E. Haner International Geoscience Activities, John A. Reinemund SURFICIAL STUDIES Planetary Geology, James R. Zimbelman Meteoritics, Harry Y. McSween Jr. Quaternary Science and Geomorphology, Allan James and Steve Colman Caves, Harvey DuChene Soil Science, H.H. Cheng Mapping, Raymond A. Byrnes PALEOBIOLOGY Micropaleontology, Martin B. Lagoe Palynology, Reed Wicander and Jan Jansonius Paleobotany, Leo J. Hickey Invertebrate Paleontology, David J. Bottjer Vertebrate Paleontology, Kenneth D. Rose and Hans-Dieter Sues RESOURCES Exploration Geophysics, William H. Dragoset Exploration Geochemistry, John E. Gray Petroleum Geochemistry, Barry Katz Hydrogeology, Thomas E. Reilly Geothermal Energy, Patrick R.L. Browne Oil and Gas, M.K. Horn Coal, James C. Hower and James R. Staub Metals and Mining, Douglas Silver Aggregate, Ken Nelson ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY Environmental Hydrogeology, R.G. Slayback Biogeochemistry, William H. Schlesinger and J. Patrick Megonigal Paleoclimatology, Wallace S. Broecker Remote Sensing, Farouk El-Baz Satellites and Remote Sensing, Ernest D. Paylor II and Miriam Baltuck Engineering Geology, Susan Steele Weir OCEANOGRAPHY Marine Geology, Donn S. Gorsline Sea-Level Change, David G. Aubrey SOLID EARTH Earthquake Seismology, Goran Ekstrom Mantle and Core Studies, Guy Masters and Adam M. Dziewonski Structural Geology and Tectonics, Carol Simpson Volcanology, Stanley N. Williams Sequence Stratigraphy, Peter J. McCabe and Keith W. Shanley ROCKS AND MINERALS Mineral Chemistry, Charles Shearer Igneous Petrology, Attila Kilinc Metamorphic Petrology, Gray E. Bebout Carbonates, Charles Kerans, Robert K. Goldhammer, and Jay L. Banner Clastic Sedimentology, Michael H. Gardner Clays, Ray E. Ferrell Jr.