ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce that the theme of Earth Science Week 2020 will be "Earth Materials in Our Lives." The coming year's event, to be held October 11-17, 2020, will focus on the ways that Earth materials impact humans — and the ways human activity impacts these materials — in the 21st century.
 
Earth Science Week 2020 learning resources and activities will engage young people and others in exploring the relationship between Earth materials and people. The coming year's theme will promote public understanding of geoscience and stewardship of the planet, especially in terms of these raw materials.
 
"The Earth system includes various rock, fluid, gaseous, and mineral materials — many of which are nonrenewable resources in limited supply — that individuals and societies use to live and thrive," says AGI Associate Director of Communications Geoff Camphire. "The availability of raw materials such as metals, aggregates, and fossil fuels influences and is influenced by human activities such as manufacturing, industry, transportation, food production, energy generation, and product recycling."
 
Earth Science Week 2020 will explore a host of related questions: As scientists, engineers, inventors and others use raw materials to design innovative technologies and goods to meet human needs, how do we evaluate costs and benefits of using Earth materials? How do we adopt policies and practices that allow us to take advantage of the unique properties of raw materials efficiently, generating value while minimizing negative impacts both locally and globally? How do we address the complex, interrelated issues like resource management, waste management, biodiversity, climate change, circular economies, life cycle analysis, and models of sustainability?
 
Reaching over 50 million people annually, AGI leads Earth Science Week in cooperation with its sponsors and the geoscience community as a service to the public. Each October, community groups, educators, and interested citizens organize celebratory events. Earth Science Week offers opportunities to discover the Earth sciences and engage in responsible stewardship of the Earth. Learn more at https://www.earthsciweek.org.
 
Earth Science Week is supported by many organizations, including the U.S. Geological Survey; the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation; National Park Service; NASA; Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration; Lyda Hill Philanthropies; AmericaView; Geological Society of America; American Geophysical Union; Society of Exploration Geophysicists Association of American State Geologists; Schlumberger; Water Footprint Calculator; and the Geothermal Resources Council.
 
About AGI
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is a nonprofit federation of more than 50 scientific and professional associations that represents more than a quarter-million geoscientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides geoscientists with access to scholarly information, 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 health of the environment.
 
AGI is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving the geoscience community and addressing the needs of society. AGI headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia.
 
The American Geosciences Institute represents and serves the geoscience community by providing collaborative leadership and information to connect Earth, science, and people.
 
_____________
AGI Contact:
Geoff Camphire, Communications
gac@americangeosciences.org