[NMScience] Earth Science Literacy Initiative

[Susie Welch]

> http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org/index.html
>
> PROJECT DESCRIPTION
>
> The Earth Science Literacy Initiative (ESLI), funded by the National 
> Science Foundation, aims to gather and codify the underlying 
> understandings of Earth sciences into a succinct document that would 
> have broad-reaching applications in both public and private arenas. It 
> will establish the "Big Ideas" and supporting concepts that all 
> Americans should know about Earth sciences. The resulting Earth 
> Science Literacy framework will also become part of the foundation, 
> along with similar documents from the Oceans, Atmospheres and Climate 
> communities, of a larger geoscience Earth Systems Literacy effort.
>
> The primary outcome of the Earth Science Literacy Initiative will be a 
> community-based document that clearly and succinctly states the 
> underlying principles and ideas of Earth science across a wide variety 
> of research fields that are funded through the NSF-EAR program, 
> including Geobiology and Low-Temperature Geochemistry, Geomorphology 
> and Land-Use Dynamics, Geophysics, Hydrologic Sciences, Petrology and 
> Geochemistry, Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology, and Tectonics.
>
> The Earth Science Literacy framework document of Big Ideas and 
> supporting concepts will be a community effort representing the 
> current state-of-the-art research in Earth sciences. It will be 
> written, evaluated, shaped and revised by the top scientists working 
> in Earth science. Because of its validity, authority and succinct 
> format, the ESL framework will be influential in a wide variety of 
> scientific, educational and political settings. *Future governmental 
> legislation will be guided by it*, and future national and state 
> educational standards will be based upon it.
>
> May 12-24, 2008
> Online Workshop: A 12-day workshop involving more than 100 
> participants from the Earth science research, education and policy 
> communities will converse online in an effort to generate and organize 
> the "Big Ideas" and supporting concepts in Earth Science.
>
> -- 
> M. Lee Allison, PhD, PG
> State Geologist & Director
> Arizona Geological Survey
> 416 W. Congress, #100
> Tucson, AZ 85701
> 520-770-3500 fax-3505
> www.azgs.az.gov
>
> President, Arizona Geological Society (www.arizonageologicalsoc.org)
> Steering Committee, Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS www.copusproject.org)
> Steering Committee, Geoscience Information Network (GIN)
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