Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce the relaunching of its GeoSpectrum newsletter as the Geotimes Blog. GeoSpectrum has evolved from a quarterly newsletter of the geoscience societies to a blog about activities in AGI’s member societies and other news and events about the geosciences. For decades, AGI’s Geotimes magazine not only published features about geoscience but was also the major source of information about the activities within the profession, including news from AGI’s Member Societies, information about new books, maps and datasets, and insights into the interface of geoscience and policy. [Read More]

To ensure that all interested participants have time to produce the best contest entries they can, Earth Science organizer is extending the deadline of its new “One Shared Place” contest to Friday, October 14, 2016. The contest is intended to promote understanding of the important role of the geosciences in everyone’s life. The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is inviting teams of educators and students to submit a 30- to 90-second original video informing viewers about an outdoor place that is special in terms of “geoheritage” (natural features, settings, and resources formed over vast periods) and “geoscience” (the study of Earth systems). [Read More]

ALEXANDRIA, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) announces the publication of its 2016 Status of the Geoscience Workforce Report. This biennial comprehensive report provides an overview of educational, employment, and economic indicators in the geosciences. Some notable highlights from this year’s 142-page report include: Even though experienced employment in the energy sector has been soft since 2014, both new graduates entering the energy sector and all geoscientists engaging in the environmental and engineering consulting industries have been seeing growth and robust activity. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - Human evolution and paleoanthropology are tricky subjects, not just because of the rarity of these fossils, but also because human nature seems to be getting in the way of modern taxonomy. In a field that is generally governed by logical rules when it comes to identifying new fossils, scientists have noticed peculiarities applied to our own genus, Homo. The story of the genus Homo is as much rooted in historical cultural norms as it is in the modern scientific sector. [Read More]

This phenomenon is not merely a recent artifact of the decreasing cost of oil, rather it dates back a century. Looking at all aspects of cost-relevant information, Fares explores the production and storage to break down and distinguish the factors that influence the cost of gasoline and milk. For the engaging analysis, go to: http://bit.ly/2aYr2BH. The August Issue of EARTH Magazine is the perfect read for any situation. This month’s cover story looks at the illustrations that changed the way people think about the geological sciences. [Read More]

Geoscience heritage, or geoheritage, is the wealth of natural marvels, landforms, and resources that have formed over time and passed to people today to manage, use, and conserve effectively. Educators know that geoheritage shows students the relevance of Earth science. Now teachers have a collection of pertinent material at their fingertips. The new “Our Shared Geoheritage” page on the Earth Science Week website links educators and students to dozens of recommended resources, including downloadable reports, articles, blogs, geoheritage locations, and learning activities. [Read More]

The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Allyson K. Anderson Book as its new Executive Director, effective September 6, 2016. Mrs. Anderson Book comes to AGI from the Department of the Interior, where she has served as the Associate Director of Strategic Engagement at the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). Prior to joining BSEE, she was a senior professional staff member on Chairman Jeff Bingaman’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. [Read More]

When Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in Iceland, spewing ash into the air, it was an expensive decision to ground all flights. The threat that ash poses to aircraft, crews, and passengers is real. When ash enters an aircraft turbine, which can reach temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Celsius, the ash can melt, damaging the engines in midflight. For decades, sand has been used to simulate the effects volcanic ash may have on aircraft. [Read More]

During the Second Punic War, Hannibal led a massive army over the Alps, surprising the Romans from the supposedly impenetrable northern border. The exact route Hannibal took is unknown, although some geographic information can be gleaned from historical accounts such as those of the Roman writer Polybius. Armed with this information, and the knowledge that tens of thousands of men, horses, and elephants must have left some trace, geoscientists are hunting down possible locations using deduction and chemistry to test hypotheses. [Read More]

Celebrate the fourth annual Geologic Map Day! On October 14, as a part of the Earth Science Week 2016 activities, join leading geoscience organizations in promoting awareness of the importance of geologic mapping to society. Geologic maps are vital to education, science, business, and public policy concerns. Geologic Map Day will focus the attention of students, teachers, and the general public on the study, uses, and significance of these tools, by engaging audiences through educational activities, print materials, online resources, and public outreach opportunities. [Read More]