Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI) Workforce Program has completed the report “Status of the Geoscience Workforce 2009.” The first chapter, “Trends in Geoscience Education from K-12 through Community College” of this comprehensive benchmark report is now available through AGI’s website. The “Status of the Geoscience Workforce” report is based on original data collected by AGI as well as from federal data sources, professional membership organizations, and industry. The report integrates all of these various data sources into a comprehensive view of the human and economic parameters of the geosciences, including supply and training of new students, workforce demographics and employment projections, to trends in geosciences research funding and economic indicators. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI) now carries the book, Association of American State Geologists Centennial History: 1908-2008 by James C. Cobb as part of its extensive offerings. Written for the Association of American State Geologists (AASG) 100th anniversary, this 525-page book covers a century of the issues, activities, and accomplishments of AASG over its remarkable history which spans the time from horse and buggy geology to GPS and laser mapping and the entire development of plate tectonic theory. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI) has just released the latest edition of the GeoRef Thesaurus (ISBN 978-0-922152-82-7). This essential guide to GeoRef database terminology includes over 30,000 controlled vocabulary terms and has been updated with 1,780 new terms. The GeoRef Thesaurus includes terms for rocks, soils, sediments, geologic structures, time periods and features, etc. Savvy database searchers use this indispensable tool to view term relationships and usage notes and to construct queries. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The Young Earth Scientists for Society (YES) network, an association of earth scientists under the age of 35 years representing geological societies from around the world, in collaboration with the International Year of Planet Earth, is organizing a world congress for young earth scientists, policy makers, advisors and decision makers. The conference will discuss global climate, environmental and geological challenges facing today’s society, and establish an interdisciplinary global network of individuals committed to solving these challenges. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Leila Gonzales, AGI Geoscience Workforce analyst will present a Betty Vetter Research Seminar on October 22, 2008. Gonzales’ presentation “Tracking the Dynamics of the Geoscience Workforce” will focus on: Earth science education requirements in grades K-12 nationwide Enrollment trends in the geosciences at U.S. colleges and universities Career and salary paths of those with geoscience degrees Diversity issues Increased demand in geosciences workforce versus stagnant growth in the number of students majoring in the geosciences The seminar will be held at the American Association for the Advancement of Science building, located in Washington, D. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI), in conjunction with its Member Societies, is announcing the release of “Critical Needs for the Twenty First Century: The Role of the Geosciences.” This concise document suggests policy directions for the next President, his administration, federal agencies and the United States Congress. The document identifies seven national issues and the role geosciences can play in addressing them: energy and climate, water, waste disposal, natural hazards, infrastructure, raw materials, and workforce and education needs. [Read More]

Scientists from the American Geological Institute (AGI) and the U.S. Geological Survey will lead students at Langston Hughes Middle School in Reston, Va., in a hands-on exploration of earth science on No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Day, October 14, 2008. Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and USGS Director Mark Myers are expected to participate in the activities at nearby Beaver Pond. The activities will engage students in “learning stations” on topics such as water chemistry and biological diversity. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Historians have spent decades analyzing the military actions of the Civil War. Now geologists are having their say. Geologists are investigating how geological forces millions of years ago sculpted the terrain of Civil War battlefields — bringing a new perspective to the war’s events. Read November’s EARTH magazine and learn how igneous rock foiled the Confederates at Gettysburg, how powdery glacial sediments sealed Vicksburg’s fate and why limestone was the soldiers’ real enemy at Antietam. [Read More]

The American Geological Institute is pleased to announce Dr. Peter A. Scholle as its new President. He will be inducted on October 7, 2008 at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Houston. Scholle, the current State Geologist of New Mexico received his B.S. in geology from Yale University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in geology from Princeton University. He was the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship and attended the University of Munich and also spent time at the University of Texas at Austin. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI) is pleased to offer “Over the Rivers” by Michael Collier, one of America’s premier aerial photographers. “Over the Rivers” (ISBN: 1-9314-1421-1) is the second volume in the exciting Aerial View of Geology series (the first was the highly praised Over the Mountains also available through AGI). A geologist, gifted science writer, and photographer Michael Collier presents these spectacular landscapes and stunning aerial photographs that vividly demonstrate geological processes. [Read More]