AGI Expands Coalition with Lyda Hill Philanthropies and Nautilus to Further Girls and Women in STEM Professions Through IF/THEN® Ambassador Program

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce, along with its publishing partner Nautilus, that it will build upon its existing coalition with Lyda Hill Philanthropies by engaging the geoscience community in IF/THEN®, an initiative created and funded by Lyda Hill Philanthropies to encourage and elevate the participation of girls and women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

AGI will feature a sampling of the 100 women geoscientists who have been named IF/THEN® Ambassadors in its  publications and educational materials distributed to millions of science teachers and students through its education network, including Earth Science Week. This partnership will augment the resources and opportunities available for educators as they communicate with students about diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM and reinforce the worldwide Earth Science Week 2019 (October 9-13) theme of "Geoscience Is for Everyone." Additionally, the coalition will introduce educators to the IF/THEN® initiative, Nautilus' Women in Science & Engineering channel, and AGI/Nautilus' EARTH channel.

"This coalition will allow AGI, IF/THEN®, and Nautilus to collaboratively develop educational materials highlighting leading female scientists," said AGI Executive Director Allyson Anderson Book. "Our goal is to incorporate these inspirational women innovators into science instructional standards and investigative activities that teachers and students can then utilize in the classroom.  Curriculum connections will focus on the Next Generation Science Standards in Earth and Space Science and show how STEM topics can be explored across traditional disciplinary boundaries."

The three organizations in this collaboration are well suited to promote the IF/THEN® initiative. IF/THEN® Ambassadors selected by Lyda Hill Philanthropies encourage recognition of women in STEM fields in a wide range of educational and other settings. Nautilus, a respected science magazine, recently launched its Women in Science & Engineering online news channel, coinciding with the release of an anthology of articles about and by women in STEM. AGI, a federation of over 50 professional associations representing more than a quarter-million geoscientists, leads the geoscience community with Earth science curricula, teacher professional development opportunities, academic information resources, workforce support, and public outreach events.

The coalition is disseminating the IF/THEN® materials through the Earth Science Week 2019 Toolkit, the Earth Science Week website, the Nautilus Women in Science & Engineering channel, and the AGI/Nautilus EARTH channel, as well as additional events and online outlets.

About IF/THEN®

IF/THEN® is part of Lyda Hill Philanthropies' commitment to fund game-changing advancements in science and nature. IF/THEN® seeks to further advance women in STEM by empowering current innovators and inspiring the next generation of pioneers. Rooted in a firm belief that there is no better time to highlight positive and successful female professional role models, IF/THEN® is designed to activate a culture shift among young girls to open their eyes to STEM careers by: (1) funding and elevating women in STEM as role models, (2) convening cross-sector partners in entertainment, fashion, sports, business and academia to illuminate the importance of STEM everywhere, and (3) inspiring girls with better portrayals of women in STEM through media and learning experiences to pique their interest in STEM careers. To learn more, visit www.ifthenshecan.org or follow IF/THEN® on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Lyda Hill Philanthropies

Lyda Hill Philanthropies encompasses the charitable giving of founder Lyda Hill who believes that "science is the answer" to life's most challenging issues and is committed to funding transformational advances in science and nature. To learn more, visit www.lydahillphilanthropies.org.

About Nautilus

Nautilus is a different kind of science magazine. Online, in print, and in the classroom, Nautilus leverages deep, undiluted, narrative storytelling to bring science into the largest and most important conversations we are having today. After all, that is where modern science — which is so personal, pervasive, spiritual, and transformative — deserves to be. Nautilus challenges the reader to consider the deep, mysterious connecting tissue that runs through the sciences and connects them to philosophy, culture, and art. Find out more at nautil.us.

About AGI

The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is a nonprofit federation of more than 50 scientific and professional associations that represents over a quarter-million geoscientists. 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. Learn more at www.americangeosciences.org.

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AGI Contact:
Geoff Camphire, Associate Director of Communications
gac@americangeosciences.org

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