Earth’s processes are a shared experience for people around the world. From earthquakes to weather patterns and rivers carving through the landscape, people and the environment are affected by the dynamic nature of Earth’s systems. People are also increasingly aware of the effects of human activity on Earth’s systems, such as through the use of mineral and energy resources. We at the American Geosciences Institute not only want people to appreciate that geoscience processes affect many aspects of their lives, but also want people to learn about how to use geoscience knowledge to assess trends, consider risks, address global challenges and consider sustainability.
It is with this in mind that the 2024 Earth Science Week theme is “Earth Science Everywhere.”
This year’s ESW celebration takes place Oct. 13-19, 2024. It is during this week that many of AGI’s sponsors and partners and many other organizations host virtual and in-person events geared toward students or the general public. These events help raise awareness of the work of geoscience organizations, in addition to teaching about earth science concepts and how they relate to real-world issues. To further enhance these connections, many of the materials developed for ESW 2024 incorporate the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, illustrating how the work of geoscientists addresses critical needs and global concerns.
Centering on the Breadth of Earth Science
Each year, AGI works with our ESW sponsors and partners, including AAPG, to put together an ESW Toolkit that contains posters, activities, games and other resources that can be used in both formal (like classrooms) and informal (museums, libraries) educational settings. The materials in the ESW Toolkit cover a broad range of Earth science topics, from mining to climate science. The Toolkit materials also address a range of geoscience skills, such as understanding temporal and spatial scales, data collection and analysis, and the use of physical and digital models to understand Earth science concepts. This can help students understand how Earth processes have occurred, changed and shaped the planet throughout its history. Many also help them understand how people and our planet affect each other.
Specific items in this year’s ESW Toolkit focus on the scope and range of the geosciences:
u The ESW 2024 poster features images showing Earth processes and features that are studied over a range of spatial scales. A global map shows the age of the seafloor, a regional map shows the extent of permafrost in the northern hemisphere and a national map shows the river basins within the United States. Activities on the back of the poster, as well as on the 2024 ESW website (earthsciweek.org/resources/2024), give guidance on how to use maps like these to discuss Earth’s features and processes and the scale at which they occur.
u The Geologic Map Day poster was developed in collaboration with the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Ariz,, and features images on both poster sides. One side features a comprehensive geologic map of the Moon produced by USGS and NASA. The other side has images of Meteor Crater (figure 1), Arizona, and two lunar craters – Tycho and Copernicus – and their corresponding geologic maps. Comparisons of craters on Earth versus the moon will allow students to explore the similarities and differences of processes that affect both celestial bodies. Lessons and activities for using this poster with students are on the 2024 ESW website and the ESW Activity Calendar. Geologic Map Day (Oct. 18) occurs annually on the Friday of ESW.
u The ESW Activity Calendar contains 12 unique activities that cover a range of Earth science concepts, aligning with both science standards used in schools across the nation and the SDGs. For example, AAPG’s activity is featured in the month of September and has students collect data on underground temperatures to explore connections to low-temperature geothermal energy applications. This activity has students conduct an investigation, analyze the data and then relate what they learned to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Connecting to the SDGs allows students to understand how Earth science concepts and the work of geoscientists address sustainability issues around the world, providing context and motivation for their learning.
In addition to sending out resources in the ESW Toolkit, AGI will host the annual ESW Webinar Series daily from Monday Oct. 14 to Friday Oct. 18. Premiering at 1 p.m. Eastern time, each webinar features multiple presentations offering diverse perspectives on a specific topic. The topics for the 2024 webinars are: monitoring the progress of work toward the SDGs, how plastics affect environmental and human health, geologic mapping of impact craters, Earth science at the poles, and regenerative agriculture. Many of the presenters will be available during the premiere to address questions from the audience. See the ESW Webinars page for more information and to register for the 2024 ESW Webinars: earthsciweek.org/webinars.
As geoscience professionals who belong to AAPG – one of AGI’s longstanding ESW sponsors and partners – we invite you to use your expertise to get involved in the ESW celebration. Using the many resources produced by AGI and our partners in the ESW Toolkit could be a good way to encourage the general public to learn about how processes in their communities occur in many places and affect populations around the world. Hosting events can also help teach others about your work and may help to inspire future generations of petroleum geologists and energy specialists. For ideas on how to host events and get involved in ESW, in addition to a full list of 2024 ESW sponsors and partners, please visit earthsciweek.org/support.