Alexandria, VA — Law enforcement may have a new crime-solving tool, courtesy of geoscientists. About five years ago, scientists coined the word “isoscape” to describe a new kind of map: a spatial distribution of stable isotope ratios (from elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and strontium) in different parts of the world, based on known ways that these isotopes behave in the environment. Different isotopes tell different stories — carbon can help identify diet, whereas hydrogen and oxygen can help identify provenance (for example, about 30 percent of the hydrogen deposited in a human hair comes from the water or water-based beverages the person drank) — so the combination of different isotopic values into one map creates a far more powerful tool than a map based on any single element. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geological Institute (AGI) is announcing that as of October 1, 2011 it is formally adopting the name the American Geosciences Institute. AGI has a rich history of nearly 65 years as the American Geological Institute providing support to the profession and the public through a wide array of programs in the geosciences. In the past several years, AGI has grown to 50 Member Societies, reflecting approximately a quarter of a million geoscientists in the United States alone. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI) welcomes three new Executive Committee members: Sharon Mosher, President-Elect; Michael D. Lawless, Treasurer; and John G. Parrish, Member-at-Large. Sharon Mosher is the Dean of Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Mosher’s other leadership roles include President of the Geological Society of America (2001), chair of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents (2004) and a founder and past chair of GeoScienceWorld (2004-2006). [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Harrison H. Schmitt has been named the 30th recipient of the Medal in honor of Ian Campbell for Superlative Service to the Geosciences. Schmitt will be presented this prestigious award at the Geological Society of America Presidential Address Ceremony in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on October 9, 2011. Dr. Schmitt received his B.S. from the California Institute of Technology in 1957; Ian Campbell was his faculty advisor during his undergraduate years at Cal Tech. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce Dr. Ian D. MacGregor as the 2011 recipient of the William B. Heroy Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to AGI. The Distinguished Service Award is presented in honor of William B. Heroy, Jr., who advanced the use of geophysics in petroleum exploration and in geologic research worldwide. Recipients of this award are measured against his exemplary career and in recognition of outstanding service to the Institute and to the geoscience profession. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — In the Witwatersrand goldfields, not far from bustling Johannesburg, South Africa, more than a century of mining has left the region littered with mounds of waste and underlain by a deep underground network of abandoned mine shafts, which are gradually filling with water. Today, the mines are producing less and less gold — and more and more sulfuric acid. Scientists estimate the volume of acid mine drainage from abandoned mines in the Witwatersrand goldfields alone could reach 350 million liters per day if something isn’t done. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA – Nearly 30 educational activities and resources have been added to the newly updated SEED Earth Science Week Online Toolkit. This partnership between Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development (SEED) and the American Geological Institute (AGI) provides earth science education resources in both Spanish and English. The Web site offers educational materials, activities, and other resources for both English- and Spanish-speaking students and teachers in the U.S. and for SEED schools around the world. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute’s Workforce Program has released an analysis of salaries for geoscientists by industry relative to those of other scientific fields. Geoscience Currents 51 shows that in 2010, average aggregated salaries for geoscience-related occupations ranged from $137,660 for geoscience-related occupations in the finance and insurance industry to $69,949 for geoscience-related occupations in state government. Salary ranges for the aggregated occupations were as narrow as $26,250 for geoscience-related occupations in the health care industry ($102,640-$76,390) to as wide as $96,960 for geoscience-related occupations in the finance and insurance industry ($179,610-$82,650). [Read More]

The American Geological Institute (AGI) and the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences (CFES) are pleased to announce the launch of CanGeoRef on September 15, 2011. CanGeoRef is a bibliographic database covering the Canadian geoscience literature since the early 1800’s. CanGeoRef is the result of a cooperative arrangement between CFES and AGI with the intent to expand GeoRef access for smaller companies and individuals focused on Canadian geoscience. With seed money from the Committee of Provincial and Territorial Geologists (CPTG), CFES, in cooperation with the Canadian provincial and territorial geological surveys, obtained publication data to be added to the existing Canadian references drawn from GeoRef, AGI’s global bibliographic database for the geosciences. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Beginning September 2, the American Geological Institute (AGI) is offering discounts of up to 90% off on various titles for purchases made by October 1, 2011. All Global GIS CD-ROMs and DVDs are marked down to an incredible $10.00. Minerals: Foundations of Society and the Glossary of Hydrology (normally $40.00) will each be available for $10.00. The Glossary of Geology is on sale for $69.00 (regularly $99.95). Shipping is extra, while sunnies last. [Read More]