Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI) is pleased to welcome its 49th Member Society, the International Medical Geology Association (IMGA). IMGA was established in 2006 and has nearly 500 members representing 73 countries. This multi-national organization facilitates interactions between geoscientists and biomedical and public health researchers to address human and animal health problems created by geologic materials and processes. Dr. P. Patrick Leahy, AGI Executive Director, says of IMGA’s addition to the AGI federation, “IMGA is an association that truly matches with AGI’s mission to increase the awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The U.S. had two key strategic advantages over the Axis in World War II: oil and water. Although other factors played major roles in the U.S. and its allies winning the war, these two natural resources played a much larger role than recognized. World War II was the first highly mechanized war. In the March feature “How Oil and Water Helped the U.S. Win World War II”, EARTH magazine explores how the abundance of domestic US oil and water in the South and Pacific Northwest drove not only tanks and planes, but also industrial production and technological innovation. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute is pleased to announce the 48th Member Society of the AGI Federation, The National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI). Originally part of the National Park Service, NCKRI is a non-profit organization with three founding partners: The National Park Service; the City of Carlsbad; and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. NCKRI exists to advance cave and karst science, serve as a repository for data, foster partnerships, promote educational programs, develop both national and international programs, and promote environmentally sound and sustainable cave and karst management. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Greer Lynn Harvell, a teacher at Clifford C. Meigs Middle School in Shalimar, Florida, has been named the 2011 recipient of the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching. Mrs. Harvell began her career teaching first grade at Elliot Point Elementary where she also later taught 4th grade. Since 2005, she has taught both 7th and 8th grade at Clifford Meigs. Harvell received her A. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Majestic snow-capped “fourteeners,” alpine meadows carpeted in wildflowers, pristine mountain lakes. These are the images most people associate with Colorado. But charming mountain terrain is not the only attraction the Centennial State has to offer the geotraveler. One of Colorado’s lesser-known geologic marvels is a vast field of sand dunes — the tallest in North America ^1 — a site sure to thrill anyone. Travel through the precipitous peaks and daunting dunes of Colorado as EARTH explores the Centennial State in the March issue. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce the theme of Earth Science Week 2011 will be “Our Ever-Changing Earth.” This year’s event will engage the public in actively learning about the varied and interconnected natural processes that shape our planet over time. Earth Science Week 2011 support materials and activities will demonstrate how evidence of change can be found everywhere, from the soil beneath our feet to the oceans and the atmosphere around us. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce that the YES Network, a professional global network for the support of early-career professionals and students in the geosciences, is the first International Associate of the AGI Federation. The YES Network is a global network of individuals who are early-career geoscientists, students, or professionals interested in supporting the development of the next generation of geoscientists. The YES Network was formed as a result of the International Year of Planet Earth in 2007. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Ask your kid what happened to the dinosaurs, and he or she will likely tell you that an asteroid killed them all. But ask how dinosaurs rose to prominence and you’ll likely get a blank stare. Even many paleontologists may have little to say about the subject. But now, as EARTH explores in a feature in the February issue, new fossil discoveries are revealing the backstory of the rise of dinosaurs. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Where to next in the search for oil and gas? EARTH examines several possible new frontiers where oil and gas exploration are starting to take hold. One of those places, Sudan, is in the news for other reasons: South Sudan voted yesterday on whether to secede from North Sudan. But given that South Sudan holds more than 70 percent of Sudan’s 5 billion to 6 billion barrels of proven reserves, a lot in this election hinges on oil. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Over the past five decades, OPEC has earned a reputation for being a powerful cartel that controls the world’s oil production and prices — but there are limits to OPEC’s influence and wealth. In fact, many OPEC countries face grave problems, which are to some extent the result of their oil-income dependence. EARTH examines OPEC’s past, current and future place in this world. Will OPEC continue to control the planet’s oil for the next 50 years? [Read More]