EARTH SCIENCE LITERACY PRINCIPLES: MAKING IMPACTS AND FORGING CONNECTIONS

Release of the Earth Science Literacy Principles (ESLP) in the spring of 2009 marked an important step in the area of Earth science literacy. Significant work remains to be done in two fronts: making sure that the ESLP have positive impacts on education and policy and forging a broader Earth Systems Science literacy framework that encompasses all of geoscience.

The NSF-funded ESLP were created with the help of nearly 1000 geoscientists and geoeducators and were reviewed and endorsed by the major geoscience organizations. They represent a strong community statement as to what all citizens should know about Earth science. To be effective, however, these principles should inform the future shaping of geoscience education and policy. For example, K-12 textbooks are currently being written and museum exhibits constructed with these Principles in hand. NPR-funded educational videos will be made in alignment with the ESLP concepts. Congressional staffers of US House and Senate members on science and education committees have been briefed on the document. Given the importance of Earth science in so many societally relevant topics such as climate change, energy and mineral resources, water availability, natural hazards, agriculture, and human impacts on the biosphere, we must make sure that such a document is in a position to assist in areas such as the creation of educational standards and the setting of relevant government policy.

The Earth Science Literacy Principles are part of a broader movement that will incorporate completed literacy principles in the Ocean, Atmosphere, Climate, and Earth Science communities into a broader Earth System Science literacy framework . Incorporation of geosciences into such a broad and unifying framework of Earth system science will be a powerful statement that will help future directions in education and policy to be aligned with the understandings of the geoscience research communities.