Do mantle plumes exist? EARTH Magazine explores one of the most hotly debated topics within the geoscience community. From the origin of plate tectonic theory to the results of the most recent experiments using techniques like isotope geochemistry and seismic tomography, the results of mantle studies are often contradictory, giving rise to the longstanding debate. It’s not just the lack of clarity in the data that opponents of the mantle plume hypothesis find frustrating, but the fact that plumes are taught as a settled scientific fact about how the planet’s mantle functions, as early as grade school. [Read More]

At the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting next week, geoscientists will discuss findings from the April 2015 Gorkha Earthquake that devastated Nepal and killed approximately 8,900 people. EARTH Magazine brings you a special feature that describes how initial data informed relief efforts and how a community ranging from mountaineers to geophysicists to engineers is helping Nepal rebuild. EARTH spoke with a mountain climber whose summit plan was cut short by shaking on Annapurna, but whose trip wasn’t wasted: Instead, he and his fellow mountaineers turned into rescuers, coming to the aid of those in need by seeking donations from engaged online social communities, and by hiking from village to village to deliver necessities from aid agencies. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute welcomed its 2015-2016 executive committee at the Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting held last month in Baltimore, Maryland. New officers include: Jean M. Bahr, President-Elect, currently a professor at University of Wisconsin at Madison, and holds degrees from Stanford and Yale. She is a fellow and was the President of GSA from 2009-2010. She currently is an editor of the AGU journal Water Resources Research. [Read More]

The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) and the Center for Geoscience and Society are pleased to extend the celebration of Earth Science Week 2015 with the announcement of a new Visualizing My Earth Challenge. This contest invites full-time secondary and postsecondary students (ages 14 and up) to submit visual representations of natural phenomena from a geoscience perspective. “What if you had a window that showed raindrops magnified 100 times?” the contest guidelines urge students to consider. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - A new study from geoscience researchers has important implications for studies of Mesoamerica and North America prior to the arrival of European settlers. Using isotope geochemistry, scientists at Pennsylvania’s Dickenson College and the University of Arizona are trying to identify if turquoise mineral specimens record the signature of their parent ore deposits. Turquoise is a copper aluminum phosphate mineral that forms from water percolating through bedrock near copper ore deposits. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce the release of “America’s Geologic Heritage: An Invitation to Leadership.” This publication was prepared by the National Park Service’s Geologic Resources Division staff in cooperation with AGI. The book synthesizes recent concepts developed in the global geologic resource conservation community and puts them into context for a uniquely American approach to geologic heritage conservation. Definitions and discussions are provided for important terms such as geologic heritage, geodiversity, and geoconservation. [Read More]

Published on American Geosciences Institute (https://www.americangeosciences.org) As Americans feast for Thanksgiving, scientists are engaged in a debate over what human ancestors feasted on and when it occurred. EARTH Magazine brings readers this active debate centered around fossilized animal bones and the marks on them. Several years ago, scientists discovered 3.4-million-year-old animal bones near Dikika, Ethiopia, that had strange markings on them. Scientists initially reported that the markings were tool marks made by human ancestors who were butchering and eating the protein- and fat-rich animals. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - Anna Lee of Suwanee, Georgia, won first place in the visual arts contest with a showing colorful connections among Earth systems in her community. Finalists were Akhshitt Swetha Karthikeyan, Nia Maheshwari, and Ava Chang. Students in grades K-5 made two-dimensional illustrations demonstrating the theme “Picturing Earth Systems.” Mary Lide Parker of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, won first place in the photo contest with her image of hiking along a frigid cliffside. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - Under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Gail M. Ashley, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) has become what it is today. Her stalwart dedication during unexpected internal changes at the institute and continued wise counsel through ongoing service on a number of AGI committees, she has demonstrated her dedication to AGI. For this, she has been recognized with the William B. Heroy Award for Distinguished Service to the American Geosciences Institute. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is accepting applications for the Edward C. Roy Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching. Given annually, this award is presented to one full-time K-8 teacher in the US or UK whose excellence and innovation in the classroom elevates students’ understanding of the Earth and its many systems. 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 Nashville, Tennessee, in March 2016. [Read More]