GEOSCIENCE AS THE BEDROCK FOR MODERN SOCIETY

We all live on Earth, which is the bedrock of modern society. We depend on the Earth for water to slake our thirst, soils to grow our food, minerals to build infrastructure, air to breathe, and energy to fuel industry and transportation. We are wary of earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and a changing global environment. We alter the Earth by damming rivers, moving large quantities of soil and rock, and adding chemicals and emissions to the atmosphere, oceans, ground surface, and the subsurface.

Geoscientists make a unique and fundamental contribution to society because we study how the Earth works – we investigate its past, measure the present, and model the future behavior of our planet. We are at the vital interface between people and the physical planet.

But we do not yet fully understand the planet on which we depend for our existence. We need more scientific information about the Earth – and the most essential first step in understanding the Earth is through its study of what it is made of and where minerals occur. This is why geologic mapping is an indispensible component of the geosciences. But it is not just a question of geoscientists understanding the Earth system, the public also needs to appreciate the balance between human existence and the Earth. As a society, we are facing many critical decisions that involve the Earth system and these decisions should be built on a sound scientific foundation. Societally-relevant geoscience is needed, now more than ever to fulfill the growing demands of a rapidly changing global population.

The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) works to support the vibrancy of the geosciences and to increase awareness and understanding of our profession and the Earth system. AGI represents and serves the geoscience community in the U.S. AGI’s vision is to help the world understand and trust the role of the geosciences in fostering creative solutions for the Earth and society. Explaining and promoting appreciation for the contribution of geologic mapping to the well-being of society is an important task for AGI and for the 250,000 geoscientists in our 51 member organizations.