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Several of the American Geosciences Institute's member societies have adopted position statements on issues important to the geoscience community and relevant to public policy. This page provides links to those statements that are available on the Web. Separate pages contain testimony and letters delivered by AGI before Congress and federal agencies. We welcome input on any additional member society statements not on this list that are on the Web or could be made available.
| Data Preservation | Education | Energy | Environment | Hazards | Natural Resources | Research | Science |
Member Society Position Statement Web Pages
- Association of American Geographers (AAG) Resolutions
- American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Statements
- Association of American State Geologists (AASG) Position Statements
- American Geophysical Union (AGU) Position Statements
- American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) Position Statements
- American Meteorological Society (AMS) Statements
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Public Policy Statements
- Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) Public Policy Statements
- Geochemical Society (GS) Position Statements
- Geological Society of America (GSA) Position Statements
- The Geological Society of London (GSL) Policy and Position Statements
- Mineralogical Society of America (MSA) Position Statements
- National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) Position Statements
- National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) Position Statements
- The Paleontological Society (PS) Policy Page
- Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) Position Statements
- Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) Technical Briefing Papers
- Seismological Society of America (SSA) Public Policy Statements
- Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Position Statements
- Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) Official Society Statements
- Data Preservation and Access
Fossils
- SVP: 21 U.S. national monuments (9 Jul 2017)
Geological and Geophysical Data
- AAPG: Preservation of Geological and Geophysical Data (6 Aug 2007)
- AGU: Earth and Space Science Data Should Be Credited, Preserved, Open, and Accessible as an Integral Responsibility of Scientists, Data Stewards, and Sponsoring Institutions (29 May 1997; reaffirmed Sep 2015)
- AGU: The U.S. Government has a Critical Role in Supporting Basic Research in the Earth and Space Sciences (May 1998; reaffirmed Sep 2016)
- AMS: Full and Open Access to Data (4 Dec 2013)
- ASCE: Coastal Data Collection Program (13 Jul 2018)
- GS: Data Policy (27 Nov 2007)
- GSA: Data Access (Oct 2005; reaffirmed Oct 2017)
- GSA: Geoheritage (Apr 2012; reaffirmed May 2017)
- GSA: Geoscience Data Preservation (Oct 2005; reaffirmed Oct 2017)
- GSA: The Value of Geologic Mapping (Oct 2003; reaffirmed May 2017)
- GSL: The Value of Museums and Collections (26 Apr 2016)
- MSA: Preservation of Natural History Collections: Minerals and Rocks (17 Oct 2009; reaffirmed 18 Oct 2014)
- SEG: Support for Collection and Preservation of Geological Information (3 Nov 2003)
Public Land
- AIPG: Access to Public Lands (15 Feb 2003)
- SME: Access to Public Lands for Mineral Exploration (Jul 2011)
- SVP: Bears Ears and Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monuments (25 May 2017)
- SVP: The Use of United States Public Lands (24 Oct 1999)
- Education
- AAG: Resolution Supporting K-12 Geography Education
- AGU: Earth and Space Science Should be Taught in K-12 Education (Dec 2001; reaffirmed Sep 2016)
- AGU: Ocean Research and Education Are Foundations for Economic Growth (Dec 2005; reaffirmed Sep 2018)
- AMS: Bachelor's Degree in Atmospheric Science (30 May 2017)
- AMS: Climate Science is Core to Science Education (23 May 2013)
- AMS: Earth Science Education (29 Jan 2006)
- AMS: Earth System Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (19 May 2014)
- AMS: Strengthening Social Sciences in the Weather–Climate Enterprise (2 Feb 2014)
- ASCE: STEM Education (10 Oct 2015)
- GSA: Expanding and Improving Geoscience in Higher Education (Oct 2011; reaffirmed May 2016)
- GSA: The Importance of Teaching Earth Science (Apr 2004; reaffirmed May 2016)
- GSL: Statement on the value and changes to A level Geology
- NAGT: High School Earth Science Instruction (1 Mar 2002)
- NAGT: The Importance of Dual Credit and Concurrent Enrollment to the Geosciences (13 May 2015)
- NESTA: The Importance of Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Earth Science Courses (Apr 2015)
- NESTA: The Importance of Earth Science Education K-12 (Mar 1987)
- SEG: The Need for Earth Science Education at the University Level (3 Nov 2003)
- SEG: The Need for Education about Geology and Mineral Resources in Public Education (3 Nov 2003)
- SME: Federal Support for U.S. Mining Schools (Mar 2013)
- SSA: Education and Workforce Development (Feb 2018)
Evolution in the Classroom
- AGU: The Scientific Theories of Biological Evolution and History of the Earth Should be Central Elements of Science Education (Dec 1981; reaffirmed Sep 2016)
- AIPG: Evolution and Earth History (9 Sep 2010)
- AWG: Science Curricula and the Teaching of Evolution in K-12 Classrooms (25 Apr 1998; reaffirmed 31 Mar 2007)
- GSA: Teaching Evolution (Oct 2005; reaffirmed May 2017)
- GSL: "Young Earth Creationism", "Creation Science" and "Intelligent Design" (11 Apr 2018)
- NAGT: Teaching Evolution (1 Nov 2006)
- PS: Evolution
- SVP: On Evolution (Nov 1994)
- Energy
Energy Policy
- AAPG: Geologic Carbon Storage (10 Nov 2008)
- AIPG: National Energy Policy (14 Feb 2003)
- AMS: The Energy Sector and Earth Observations, Sciences, and Services (20 Sep 2012)
- ASCE: Energy Policy (9 Jul 2016)
Nuclear Energy/Nuclear Waste
- ASCE: High-level Nuclear Waste Management (29 Jul 2017)
- ASCE: Nuclear Power (9 Jul 2016)
- GSL: Implementing Geological Disposal: A Framework for the Long-term Management of Higher Activity Radioactive Waste (24 Jul 2014)
- GSL: Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (4 Sep 2012)
- SME: Nuclear Power (Dec 2013)
Oil and Gas
- AAPG: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Access (11 Apr 2011)
- AAPG: Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Resources (6 Aug 2007)
- AAPG: Hydraulic Fracturing (11 Aug 2011)
- AAPG: National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Access (6 Aug 2007)
- AAPG: National Gas Supply Concerns (6 Aug 2007)
- AAPG: Offshore OCS Access (6 Aug 2007)
- AAPG: U.S. Onshore Access (11 Aug 2011)
- AAPG: United States National Energy Supply (6 Aug 2007)
- AIPG: Domestic Energy: Oil and Gas (Oct 2009)
- ASCE: Hydraulic Fracturing (13 Jul 2018)
- GSL Government Announcements on Shale Gas (5 Dec 2012)
Other
- AIPG: Domestic Energy: BioFuels (Oct 2009)
- AIPG: Domestic Energy: Carbon Dioxide (Oct 2009)
- AIPG: Domestic Energy: Coal (Oct 2009)
- AIPG: Domestic Energy: Environmental (Oct 2009)
- AIPG: Domestic Energy: Ocean Energy Alternatives (Oct 2009)
- AIPG: Domestic Energy: Other Resources (Oct 2009)
- AIPG: Domestic Energy: Uranium (Oct 2009)
- SME: Coal's Importance in the US and Global Energy Supply (Sep 2012)
- Environment
Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Land Use
- AAPG: Reformation of the Clean Water Act-Wetlands Access (6 Aug 2007)
- AIPG: Aggregate Resources and Land-Use Planning (18 Feb 2003)
- AIPG: Wetlands (16 Feb 2003)
- ASCE: Offshore Facilities Development (13 Jul 2018)
- ASCE: Restoring and Maintaining Beaches (13 Jul 2018)
- ASCE: Sediment Management for Erosion Control, Channel Maintenance and Coastal Protection (8 Oct 2017)
- ASCE: Watershed Management (13 Jul 2018)
- GSA: Integrating Geoscience with Sustainable Land-Use Management (May 2009; reaffirmed Oct 2014)
- SME: The Mining Industry and Sustainable Development (April, 2016)
- SSSA: Carbon Sequestration
- SSSA: Soil Ecosystem Services
Climate Change
- AAG: Requesting Action on Climate Change (11 Mar 2006)
- AAPG: Climate Change (11 Aug 2011)
- AGU: Geoengineering Solutions to Climate Change Require Enhanced Research, Consideration of Societal Impacts, and Policy Development (12 Jan 2018)
- AGU: Human-Induced Climate Change Requires Urgent Action (Dec 1998; reaffirmed Aug 2013)
- AMS: Climate Change (20 Aug 2012)
- AMS: Geoengineering the Climate System (6 Jan 2013)
- AMS: Weather, Water, and Climate Priorities (26 May 2016)
- ASCE: Impact of Climate Change (13 Jul 2018)
- GSA: Climate Change (Oct 2006; reaffirmed Apr 2015)
- GSL: Climate Change: Evidence from the Geologic Record (Nov 2010; reaffirmed Dec 2013)
- GSL: Learned Societies' Climate Communiqué - COP21 (21 Jul 2015)
- NAGT: Climate Change (1 Jul 2009)
- SSSA: Climate Change (11 May 2011)
Water
- AAPG: Reformation of the Clean Water Act-Wetlands Access (6 Aug 2007)
- AMS: Water Resources in the 21st Century (30 May 2017)
- AMS: Weather, Water, and Climate Priorities (26 May 2016)
- GSA: Water Resources (Sep 2008; reaffirmed May 2017)
- Hazards
Natural
- AGU: Resilience to Natural Hazards Requires a Partnership Between Scientists, Policy Makers, and Stakeholders (Dec 1996; reaffirmed Dec 2015)
- AMS: Best Practices for the Dissemination of Weather Warnings to the Public (7 Jan 2018)
- AMS: Drought (19 Sep 2013)
- AMS: Flash Floods: The Role of Science, Forecasting, and Communications in Reducing Loss of Life and Economic Disruptions (17 Apr 2017)
- AMS: Hurricane Forecasting in the United States (14 Mar 2007)
- AMS: Space Weather (9 Jul 2013)
- AMS: Tornado Forecasting and Warning (8 Oct 2004)
- AMS: Tornado Preparedness and Safety (14 Feb 2000)
- AMS: Weather Safety at Venues and Public Gatherings (3 May 2018)
- ASCE: Earthquake Hazards Mitigation (13 Jul 2018)
- ASCE: Floodplain Management (13 Jul 2018)
- ASCE: Infrastructure Resilience Research (29 Jul 2017)
- ASCE: Mitigating the Impacts of Natural Disasters (29 Jul 2017)
- GS: March 11, 2011, Earthquake and Tsunami (6 Sep 2011)
- GSA: Improving Natural Hazards Policies through Geoscience (Oct 2005; reaffirmed Oct 2017)
- GSA: Managing U.S. Coastal Hazards (Oct 2013)
- SSA: Earthquake and Tsunami Monitoring (Dec 2017)
- SSA: The Reauthorization of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) (May 2017)
Manmade
- AMS: Atmospheric Ozone (7 Jan 2018)
- ASCE: Mitigating the Impacts of Natural Disasters (29 Jul 2017)
- SME: Mine Health and Safety (May 2011)
- SSSA: Biosecurity (3 Dec 2001)
- Natural Resources
- AIPG: Aggregate Resources and Land-Use Planning (18 Feb 2003)
- AIPG: Domestic Mineral Resources (17 Feb 2003)
- ASCE: Groundwater Management (9 July 2016)
- GSA: Critical Minerals and Materials (Oct 2013; reaffirmed May 2018)
- MSA: Asbestos (17 Nov 2011; reaffirmed 18 Oct 2014)
- SME: Aggregates Contribution to U.S. Infrastructure Investment (Jun 2013)
- SME: Critical and Strategic Minerals Importance to the U.S. Economy (Nov 2012)
- SME: Industrial Minerals Impact on the U.S. Economy (Oct 2013)
- SME: Meeting the U.S. Minerals and Metals Needs for Energy Production (March 2015)
- SME: Mining and the Use, Quality and Availability of Water (Jun 2012)
- SME: Rare Earth Elements (Jun 2014)
- SME: The Role of Arsenic in the Mining Industry (Apr 2015)
- SME: The Safe and Effective Use of Cyanide in the Mining Industry (Aug 2014)
- Research
- AAPG: Research and Development Needs in the 21st Century (6 Aug 2007)
- AGU: Ocean Research and Education Are Foundations for Economic Growth (Dec 2005; reaffirmed Sep 2018)
- GSA: Public Investment in Earth Science Research (Sep 2008; reaffirmed May 2016)
- GSA: Role of Government in Mineral and Energy Resources Research (Oct 2008; reaffirmed May 2016)
- GSA: Supporting Planetary Exploration (Apr 2012; reaffirmed May 2017)
Communications
- AGU: AGU Supports Free and Open Communication of Scientific Findings (Aug 2011; reaffirmed Sep 2016)
- AMS: Climate Services (17 Sep 2015)
- AMS: Free and Open Exchange of Environmental Data (13 Jan 2002)
- AMS: Freedom of Scientific Expression (22 Jan 2017)
- ASCE: Publication of Publicly Funded Research (13 Jul 2018)
- Science Policy
- AAG: Recent Prohibition of National Science Foundation Funding for Political Science Research (Coburn Amendment)
- AAPG: Reformation of the Endangered Species Act (11 Aug 2011)
- AAPG: Tax Reform (6 Aug 2007)
- ASCE: National Science Foundation (29 July 2017)
- GSA: Geosciences and Energy Policy (Oct 2017)
- SME: Improved Regulatory Coordination to Ensure Responsible Mining & Environmental Protection (Oct 2011)
- SSA: Federal Investment in Earthquake Science (Feb 2018)
- SSA: Reauthorization of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) (May 2017)
- SVP: US Department of the Interior's Proposed PRPA Regulations (3 Feb 2017)
Ethics and Professional Issues
- AAG: Professional Ethics (18 Oct 1998; reaffirmed 1 Nov 2009)
- AGU: The Responsibilities and Rights of Scientists (Apr 2017)
- AWG: Promoting Diversity in the STEM Workforce (13 Jul 2000)
- GSA: Diversity in the Geosciences Community (Jun 2010; reaffirmed May 2016)
- GSA: Freedom of Scientific Expression (2017)
- GSA: Promoting Earth Science Literacy for Public Decision Making (May 2018)
- GSA: Removing Barriers to Career Progression for Women in the Geosciences (May 2018)
- GSA: Rewarding Professional Contributions in the Public Spheres (May 2001; reaffirmed May 2017)
- GSA: Visas for Foreign Scientists and Students (May 2005; reaffirmed Oct 2017)
- GSL: The US Executive Order (16 Feb 2017)
Workforce
- AAPG: Oil and Gas Workforce Needs in the 21st Century (11 Aug 2011)
- AWG: Promoting Diversity in the STEM Workforce (13 Jul 2000)
- GSA: The Role of the Geoscientist in Building and Maintaining Infrastructure (Oct 2014)
- SME: Workforce Trends in the U.S. Mining Industry (19 Feb 2014)
- SSA: Education and Workforce Development (Feb 2018)
Please send any comments or requests for information to the AGI Geosciences Policy at govt@americangeosciences.org.
Assembled by AGI/AAPG 2006 Spring Intern Jenny Fisher, AGI/AAPG 2005 Spring Intern Katie Ackerly, AGI/AIPG 2006 Summer Intern Carrie Donnelly, Rachel Bleshman AGI/AAPG 2006 Fall Intern, Liz Landau AGI/AAPG 2007 Fall Intern, Elizabeth Huss 2010 AGI/AIPG Summer Intern, Kimberley Corwin 2013 AAPG/AGI Spring Intern, Clinton Koch 2013 AIPG/AGI, Forrest Lewis 2018 AGI Fall Intern, and AGI Geoscience Policy staff.
Last updated October 23, 2018