AGI Names Sally Jewell as Earth Science Education Ambassador

Alexandria, Va. — Sally Jewell, the conservationist, petroleum engineer, former President and CEO of Recreational Equipment, Incorporated (REI), and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, will serve as a major national spokesperson for the American Geosciences Institute (AGI). The Institute has named Jewell as its Earth Science Education Ambassador; she will highlight the need for strong Earth science instruction throughout K-12 education and will be the principal spokesperson for Earth Science Week 2018 (October 14-20), which will focus on the theme “Earth as Inspiration.”

“Throughout Secretary Jewell’s distinguished career as an engineer, business executive, and public servant, she has demonstrated an appreciation for the Earth and how people connect to it,” said AGI Executive Director Allyson Anderson Book. “And she is a recognized leader, particularly in the area of youth engagement on public lands.” As Secretary of the Interior, Jewell launched a four-year initiative to encourage millions of young people to play, learn, serve, and work in America’s great outdoors, engaging 5 cities across the nation and leveraging funds from the private sector to support the effort.

An avid outdoor enthusiast, Jewell has climbed Mount Vinson, the tallest mountain in Antarctica, as well as Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest peak, and has ascended Mount Rainier seven times. Her dedication to creating deep connections between young people and our planet will inform her role as AGI’s Earth Science Education Ambassador and makes her an ideal spokesperson for Earth Science Week 2018, which will showcase the visual and performing arts and how artists are inspired by the Earth’s natural systems.

Anderson Book concluded, “I believe Secretary Jewell’s enthusiasm — for learning about our shared Earth and inspiring children to understand how Earth is intertwined with our lives and culture — is universal, and we at AGI are delighted for the opportunity to work closely with her in the coming year.”