Earth Science Week 2016 Theme Announced: 'Our Shared Geoheritage'

Alexandria, VA – The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce that the theme of Earth Science Week 2016 is “Our Shared Geoheritage.” This year’s event will promote awareness of the many ways that science helps us understand, appreciate, and make the most of our geoscience heritage, or, as it is commonly known worldwide, “geoheritage.”

Geoheritage is the collection of natural wonders, landforms, and resources that have formed over eons and come to this generation to manage, use, and conserve effectively. Geoheritage locations are valued for many reasons, including scientific, economic, ecological, educational, cultural, aesthetic, artistic, and recreational purposes.

Earth Science Week 2016 learning resources and activities engage young people and others in exploring geoheritage throughout the Earth systems, including the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. This theme promotes public understanding and stewardship in many areas, including Earth science, energy, paleontology, water quality, conservation, and climate science.

“Earth Science Week 2016 celebrates ‘Our Shared Geoheritage,’ a concept that has become a rallying cry for geoscience-related efforts worldwide,” says Geoff Camphire, AGI’s Manager of Outreach. “Geoheritage awareness is essential for all citizens of the planet, who are the 21st-century inheritors, managers, and protectors of a vast wealth of irreplaceable natural treasures, billions of years in the making.”

Geoheritage sites, features, and resources are studied not only with the five senses, but also through sciences and technologies such as seismology, economic geology, remote sensing, mapping, computer modeling, and Earth observation. To learn more about geoheritage, see “America’s Geologic Heritage,” produced jointly by the National Park Service and AGI (http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/geoheritage/).

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 year, 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.

Earth Science Week is supported by many organizations, including the U.S. Geological Survey; the AAPG Foundation; the National Park Service; NASA; Esri; the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration; the Geological Society of America; and the American Geophysical Union; the Association of American State Geologists; Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and the Archaeological Institute of America.

Reaching over 50 million people annually, Earth Science Week has been led by AGI in cooperation with its sponsors and the geoscience community since 1998. Earth Science Week 2016 will be celebrated October 9-15, 2016. To learn more, please visit www.earthsciweek.org. To order Toolkits, please visit www.earthsciweek.org/materials. You may also call AGI Publications to place your order at 703-379-2480.