Earth Science Week 2021 Contests Offer Educational Opportunities

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Recognizing the need to provide educational activities that young people and others can pursue at home, in the classroom, and in additional settings during this challenging time, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is opening submissions for its Earth Science Week contests.

Earth Science Week 2021 Theme Announced: 'Water Today and for the Future'

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce that the theme of Earth Science Week 2021 will be "Water Today and for the Future." The coming year's event, to be held October 10-16, 2021, will emphasize the importance of learning how to understand, conserve, and protect water, perhaps Earth's most vital resource.

Responding to societal needs with 3D geology: An international perspective

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Geological Survey Organizations (GSOs) have been helping society face economic and environmental challenges for over 150 years. The technological transformation of geoscience is presenting new opportunities for GSOs, and the wider geoscience community, to respond to the societal challenges of our time, and lay the foundation for a sustainable future. Three-dimensional geological modelling is providing a valuable tool for informed decision making and risk reduction – from planning urban infrastructure, managing ground water resources, and sourcing renewable energy. To capitalize on this capability, new data infrastructures are required to share and integrate information across government and the private sector.

This two-part webinar will feature leaders in the field, presenting the latest developments, and will be of interest to students, academics, private sector practitioners, and other government agencies.

This webinar series is sponsored by the World Community of Geological Surveys (WCOGS).

Workshop Program

Part 1: Geological Survey Organizations support societal needs: 3D geoscience

November 17, 2020, 10h00 - 11h45 EST / 16h00 - 17h45 CET

Moderator: Harvey Thorleifson, Director, Minnesota Geological Survey

Program:

Past, Present, and Future of Geological Modeling of the Subsurface, Keith Turner, Colorado School of Mines, CO, USA
An Overview of Current 3D Modelling Activities at GSOs, Kelsey MacCormack, Alberta Geological Survey/Alberta Energy Regulator, AB, Canada
Unlocking Value from Geospatial Data Beyond GSOs, Holger Kessler, Geospatial Commission, Cabinet Office, UK
Enabling Societal Access and Use of Geoscience Data, Michiel van der Meulen, TNO, Geological Survey of the Netherlands, NL

Question and Answer session followed by Wrap-up

Part 2: Geological Survey Organizations support societal needs: 21st Century Challenges

November 19, 2020, 10h00 - 11h45 EST / 16h00 - 17h45 CET

Moderators: Kelsey MacCormack (Alberta Geological Survey/Alberta Energy Regulator) and Holger Kessler (Geospatial Commission, Cabinet Office, UK)

A panel discussion among experts regarding challenges in the 21st century.

Program:

Environmental Modelling, Edward Sudicky, Aquanty Inc, Waterloo, ON, CA
Engineering Geology, Helen Reeves, Jacobs, Leeds, UK
Urban Applications, Scott Kuykendall, McHenry County Department of Planning and Development, Woodstock, IL, USA
Groundwater Resources, Michael Kehinde, Groundwater and Hydrology Team, Environment Agency, Hertfordshire and North London Area, UK
3D Methods and Visualization, Roland Baumberger, Swiss Geological Survey, CH

Question and Answer session followed by Wrap-up

This webinar series is organized by the Geological Survey of Canada, Illinois State Geological Survey, British Geological Survey, Alberta Geological Survey, Minnesota Geological Survey, TNO, Geological Survey of the Netherlands.

Geological Survey Organizations support societal needs: 3D geoscience - An Introduction

Ensuring Sufficient Supplies of Clean Water

To optimize clean water availability:

Increase monitoring of both the quantity and quality of surface water and groundwater. Knowledge of the state of water resources and how they change both spatially and over time is critical for protecting, maintaining, and restoring the Nation’s water quality and quantity. It is important to collect, manage, and widely share this information effectively.

Mapping Displacement and Subsidence with Time-series Radar

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Background

Two related developments have moved the use of radar imagery into the operational realm. The supply of available data has increased greatly, especially with the freely-available Sentinel-1 satellites. And the analysis algorithms are now tested and established, producing reliable and standardized Information Products. One application in particular has benefited greatly from these synergistic developments; centimeter-scale measurement of surface motion on a regional scale. The ability to produce time-series displacement maps with a high point density has revolutionized the monitoring, and mitigation, of subsidence due to subsurface extraction of resources such as water or hydrocarbons.

Our speakers are: