Thought Leadership

When you think of the key components required for life on Earth, three Does that responsibility weigh heavily, things immediately spring to mind: food, water and energy. Geoscientists or does it simply feel like you present the are the people who research not only these three vital components, information and then it's up to public policy to respond accordingly? but instead focus their attention on the entire Earth system: its oceans, AGI: Geoscience JB: It definitely weighs heavily on me as a atmosphere, islands and continents, rivers and lakes, ice sheets and person and I certainly have strong feelings glaciers, soils, its complex surface, rocky interior, and metallic core. Nobody about the directions that I think we should go understands the importance of geoscience in the modern world better in terms of public policy, but I can't speak for than and , both from the the entire geoscience community. Part of what has the whole Dr Jean Bahr Ms Allyson Anderson Book informs my decisions on where we should go is American Geosciences Institute (AGI), who pinpoint education as the key my worldview and my values, and I don't know remaining challenge in furthering scientific understanding of Earth’s history. if all geoscientists share the same values. world in its Can you tell us about the background of the AGI and what it does? eoscience is the study of the Hello Dr Bahr and Ms Anderson Book! Why JB: AGI was founded in 1948 in response to Earth. The scientists responsible do you think the geosciences are particularly a directive from the National Academy of hands for such investigations, namely important to life on Earth at this particular Sciences. Its purpose was to create a network geoscientists, are known as the time? of associations that represent geoscientists caretakers of Earth's resources, JB: Geoscience is the study of our planet. with a diverse array of skills and knowledge and their research looks at the Earth, its soils, It doesn’t just include the rocks and the of our planet. There are similar federations, Gits oceans, and its atmosphere as just some of resources, but it also includes life and the such as the American Institute of Physics. A lot the ways to further human understanding of history of life on our planet. In other words, the has changed since 1948, but AGI continues Earth’s interwoven processes and history. study of geosciences encompasses just about to provide collaborative leadership and everything that's important to life on Earth. information to geoscientists, and serves as a The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) Geoscientists also have a broad understanding voice of shared interests in geoscience. provides a collective hub from which global of the way our planet has evolved, and that geoscientists can collaborate, share ideas offers a unique perspective on some of Earth’s Can you explain the role that the geosciences and accumulate research to the benefit of the ongoing climatic changes. play in society's use of resources, resilience planet and everybody on it. The non-profit to natural hazards, and health of the federation, founded in 1948, comprises 51 To what extent do you think geoscientists environment? geoscientific and professional organisations should be responsible for alerting politicians JB: First of all, finding, assessing, and that represent over 250,000 geologists, to their findings, suggesting solutions, and managing Earth's resources has always been geophysicists, and other Earth scientists. advocating that these be put into practice? an essential part of geoscience practices. The JB: I think we have a huge responsibility to first geological studies were prompted by Through AGI’s influence, geoscience research present our scientific findings, but what is then resource use, and geoscientists have been has become more accessible and publicised done with those findings is really a matter principal players in the search for energy and than ever before. Their current President, Dr of public policy. I think we, as individuals, mineral resources. Energy resources don’t only Jean Bahr (JB), and Executive Director, Ms should certainly feel free to advocate for include fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural Allyson Anderson Book (AAB), spoke with what we think are the consequences of those gas, but they also include uranium for nuclear us at Research Features to discuss how this findings, but I don't think it's possible for the energy, and Earth’s heat sources, which can be transition has come about, highlighting the geoscience community to say what those utilised to generate geothermal energy. importance of novel geoscience events, such findings mean in terms of what we should do. as Week. Our findings can inform us as to what may More recently there's been increased happen under different scenarios. So, for attention to the rare earth elements, which instance, if we do not reduce the emissions make up significant components of electronic of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, equipment and things like solar panels. From our science will inform us as to what the my own field, it's a bit of an interesting titbit

©Jean Bahr©Jean consequences of that could be: it's really a that, if we think about what is mined the public policy decision whether you want to most in terms of all resources, it's water. So, avoid that or not. of course geoscientists are therefore also

Geoscientists also have a broad understanding of the way our planet has evolved, and that offers a unique perspective on some of Earth’s ongoing Jean Bahr, President of the American Geosciences Institute (2016-17). climatic changes

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involved in determining where water resources challenges there's also some excitement in are, quantifying both surface and underground the way we can, as geoscientists, continue

water resources, determining what water-use Book ©A.A. to develop new tools that help us do better rates would be sustainable under various jobs of forecasting natural hazards, and of

scenarios, and predicting conditions that can © Celia Thomas/AGI quantifying water resources. So, for example, lead to droughts and floods. there's a satellite mission called GRACE which uses gravity measurements to determine In terms of natural hazards, geoscientists are changes in the water holding capacity of large the ones who identify risks associated with areas – such as the central valley of California. landslides, earthquakes, and even volcanic Some of those tools have really revolutionised eruptions. Some of these natural hazards can our ability to look at these things on a global be predicted but, with other hazards that can’t scale. While there may be lots of challenges, necessarily be predicted, we can interpret there are also lots of opportunities. what their consequences will be, to give a projection of the occurrence likelihood. AAB: If you look at modern society, there are a few key things you have to have in order to In terms of the health of the planet, the actually grow and improve your economy. You health of people and ecosystems depends The entrance to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, highlighting National Fossil Day - an important event need access to health care, energy, natural directly on access to resources such as water, within Earth Science Week. resources, and, perhaps most importantly, as well as protection from natural hazards food and water. When you look at those and toxic substances. One example of this different areas, what sits at the base is a is arsenic in drinking water, and that's been laboratory manual that's used in introductory its 20th year, we are really trying to extend the geoscientist – so, for instance, you're not going a significant problem in many parts of South courses, and then of course we week’s outreach further, and we are hoping to have great crop yields if you don't have a Asia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and even in the US have GeoRef, which is an online subscription that Earth Science Week will be in all 50 states geoscientist working on the mineral content in my home state of Wisconsin. We've done database which contains practically all of the United States soon enough. of soil. work looking at how to control the presence of published geoscience literature. If you explore naturally occurring arsenic in drinking water – Susan Werner Kieffer (center) receives AGI's 2017 Marcus Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal from AGI President the AGI website you'll find a lot of publications What is the current situation in terms of Geoscience is at the base of the societal so those are just a few examples. Jean Bahr (left) and AGI Executive Director Allyson Anderson Book (right). there, related to Earth science education workforce development for geoscientists? pyramid, and without us putting a framework and public policy related areas, as well as our JB: Based on data from the AGI Workforce in place that addresses some pretty What influence does the AGI have on the Glossary and Geoscience Handbook, which Program’s most recent report, we're expected fundamental challenges, the world’s gross formation of public policy and decision- not sending out conflicting or redundant members can use as talking points when they are essential for geoscientists working in the to have a deficit of about 90,000 geoscientists domestic product (GDP) suffers. making? messages, and we leverage the whole conduct visits with their, either federal, state or field. in the US by 2024. We have an ageing JB: AGI has had a formal public policy community. local, representatives. population in a lot of the industries that • For more information on the American programme for the last 25 years, and it works AGI is particularly interested in publications traditionally hire geoscientists, so meeting Geosciences Institute, with coalitions and teams to communicate its At the state and the local level, we also gather The AGI has a strong publishing presence. focused on education, and some of these that future demand is going to require strong Earth Science Week shared goals with the geoscience community and disseminate geoscience information for Why is this aspect of communication come out in conjunction with a major investments in education and professional or their fantastic and to decision-makers. One of the specific decision makers, and we do that in a couple important to the AGI? programme that we sponsor called Earth development. Year on year, there are certainly magazine, EARTH, please things we do is that we sponsor internships, of ways. We run a programme called Critical JB: Unlike a lot of our member societies, AGI Science Week. This weeklong event, which fluctuations in hiring. visit their respective fellowships and congressional visits, all of Issues, which, during its recent Forum in does not publish a peer reviewed primary runs from 8-14th October 2017, is an attempt websites at www. which get geoscientists up to Capitol Hill, Colorado, discussed the issues associated literature science journal. Our flagship to engage students across grade levels in The oil and gas industry in the US has been americangeosciences. home of the United States Congress in with managing resources in an publication is a magazine called EARTH. hands-on geoscience learning. We really want in a bit of a downturn in the last couple of org, Washington DC. Geoscientists from around area called the High Plains . We also This used to be called Geotimes, and it to ensure that teachers have access to good years, after doing quite a bit of hiring in the www.earthsciweek.org & the country come to Capitol Hill to discuss run a series of free webinars at AGI, including presents geoscience in a way that's easy to baseline material, and we want students to preceding two years. And, in environmental www.earthmagazine.org. their research with policy makers, learn the one several weeks ago focusing on flood risks, read. It's really designed for the public, as understand the connections between human geoscience right now, there's a lot of basics of public policy, learn the outlook for which attracted over 500 participants. These well as a broad sector of geoscientists who society, science, and the Earth more broadly. uncertainty related to the new administration, federal funding of geoscience research and webinars provide people with a real-time are interested in topics outside of their own because a lot of the work they do is partly education, and gain first hand advice from AGI conversation, and the recordings are available specific expertise. I give it to my 93-year-old AAB: What is especially great about Earth driven by regulations which are likely to be staff on how to conduct effective meetings on-demand from our website. AGI is non- father who's an electrical engineer, and he Science Week is that we get to partner removed. However, in the long run we will Contact with congressional staff. This experience helps partisan, but we work to ensure that policy loves it! with several federal agencies, international still need clean water, mineral resources and American Geosciences Institute to increase the visibility of geoscience and the is informed by geoscience and advocate organisations, and geoscience groups from all energy, so I think there's going to remain a 4220 King Street engagement of geoscientists in public policy. on behalf of the geoscience profession. For We also produce geoscience curricula, to around the world, as well as private industry strong demand for geoscientists over time. Alexandria example, we publish reports and factsheets provide students from nursery upwards and other non-profit organisations, to put VA 22302-1502 Many of our member societies don't have the for new administrations and new members of with Earth science learning materials in their together educational materials in a sort of What particular challenges will geoscientists USA resources themselves to hire staff to engage Congress, and these are resources that our schools. At the university level, we have a database that we call the Earth Science Week need to address during the next decade? directly in the public policy process, so for Toolkit. The Toolkit showcases all the different JB: I think all of us are going to need to E: [email protected] them we serve as their voice in Washington activities that come around during Earth address the changing climate. With continually T: +1 (703) 379-2480 and provide assistance to their members Science Week, and we send that out globally increasing global demand for clean water, W: www.americangeosciences.org when they conduct congressional visits. Geoscience is at the base of the societal now. energy, and mineral resources, alongside /AGI_Updates We coordinate with member societies that increasingly dense populations and natural /AAndersonBook have their own public policy programmes to pyramid and, without us putting a We have had activities run in South America, hazards, the climatic impacts are going to www.facebook.com/agiweb/ ensure that we're working together, that we're framework in place, the world’s GDP suffers Japan, China, and all variety of places. Now in be amplified. Likewise, I think with those

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