The American Geological Institute is sponsoring an international photography contest to celebrate both the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) and Earth Science Week 2009. The theme of the contest is "Exploring Earth Science Around the World."

The American Geological Institute (AGI) Education Department is making available an extensive database of active earth science organizations to enable educational, community, and interest groups to more easily engage with geoscientists in their community.

The American Geological Institute (AGI) congratulates all of the members of the geoscience community who joined it in efforts to demonstrate the importance of maintaining geosciences programs on college and university campuses. In particular, AGI is pleased that the leadership of the University of Florida has recognized the critical role of the geosciences in addressing societal issues of the state and Nation, and in the portfolio of a well-rounded university education by preserving the geosciences on their campus as they make the difficult budget decisions faced in this economic downturn.

While homes are being lost and firefighters go about the dangerous work of fighting the Santa Barbara wildfires in California, EARTH magazine is reporting on new research that highlights a different approach: When fires near in, consider staying and defending your home instead of evacuating.