In April and May 2015, a bloom of toxic algae spanned more than a thousand miles of Pacific coastline, from Santa Barbara, Calif., to British Columbia. Marine organisms were poisoned throughout the food web, disrupting coastal ecosystems and economies for months. Similar events are expected to become more frequent as the oceans and atmosphere adjust to a warming climate. In the February issue of EARTH Magazine, read how scientists are working to better understand the 2015 Pacific bloom, hoping to apply lessons learned in responding to future events. [Read More]

The latest research suggests humans first arrived in the Americas as early as 16,000 years ago, but using which path remains controversial. Archaeologists and geologists are working to answer the question of how and when the first Americans arrived. In the January issue of EARTH Magazine, their work is showcased, reexamining the origins of our shared geoheritage in light of new evidence. As the world’s coastlines shifted after the end of the last ice age, the locations of artifacts left by the first Americans shifted with them. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA – The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce that the theme of Earth Science Week 2017 is “Earth and Human Activity.” This year’s event, the 20th annual Earth Science Week celebration, promotes awareness of what geoscience tells us about human interaction with the planet’s natural systems and processes. Earth Science Week 2017 learning resources and activities are engaging young people and others in exploring the relationship between human activity and the geosphere (earth), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (life). [Read More]

Slow-moving landslides, while not as dramatic as their faster-moving counterparts, can damage infrastructure and cause headaches for the communities they affect. Slow-moving slides are generally associated with rainfall or snowmelt, but a new study in Japan has shown that some of these slides may occur when a certain kind of clay is exposed to cold temperatures. In the January issue of EARTH Magazine, the link between ground temperature and slow slides is explored, including implications for the science of predicting similar landslides around the world. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - In November 1985, the eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia resulted in the death of more than 23,000 people. Geoscientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, WA, moved to action. Having studied the warning signs and responded to the eruption of Mount St. Helens five years earlier, they knew that the Nevado del Ruiz disaster could have been prevented. Their advocacy paved the way for the formation of the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) in 1986. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - How did your town celebrate Earth Science Week? The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce city-specific celebrations of its annual geoscience awareness campaign, Earth Science Week, which took place October 9-15, 2016. Major American cities such as Houston, Denver, Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, served as major centers of public awareness activities. In all these cities, AGI collaborated with geoscience organizations and public schools to extend and deepen the reach of the successful Earth Science Week campaign with special events, educational materials, online resources, and activities in schools and other settings. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is accepting applications for the Edward Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching. Given annually, this award is presented to one teacher of grades K-8 in the United States or Key Stages 3 in the United Kingdom each year. The award recognizes leadership and innovation in Earth science teaching. The winner of the Edward C. Roy Award will receive a cash prize and an additional travel grant to attend the National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference in Chicago in March 2017. [Read More]

The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce the latest award recipients of the Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO) Diversity Grants: Daniel Colman, Postdoctoral Researcher at Montana State University; Rosa Zayas, Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Delaware; Omar Harvey, Assistant Professor at Texas Christian University; and Pedro Marenco, Associate Professor at Bryn Mawr College. These scholars were awarded grants to conduct research related to DCO’s mission of expanding the field of deep carbon science. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) has announced the winners of the first Earth Science Week video contest. Teams of educators and students were invited to submit a 30- to 90-second original video informing viewers about an outdoor place that is special in terms of geoheritage and geoscience. The winners are: “Deal Island” - Educator Kolby Noble and students Ashlynn Merrit, Matthew Price, Lasadia Skelley, Dawson Daniels, Nathan Bradford, Jazmine White, Madison Mechalske, Ethan Scott, Alyssa Moisan, Kenny Stachawski, and Paige Barnes (Deal Island, MD). [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - Sophia Findley of Kapolei, Hawaii, won first place in the visual arts contest with a creative and colorful drawing of Diamond Head Volcano, an example of geoheritage near where she lives. Finalists were David De Costa, Jenna Eutsey Shrish Karthikeyan, and Taylor Redmond. Students in grades K-5 made two-dimensional artworks illustrating the theme “Seeing Earth Heritage.” Lily Wolfe of San Carlos, California, won first place in the photo contest with her image of seaside geology along with underwater life. [Read More]