visit IYPE web site
 
Q

What is the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE)?

The International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) is a global initiative of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to bring all nations together to focus on the geosciences.

Global efforts include:

  • Science program—focused on complex interactions within the earth system and its long-term sustainability;
  • Outreach program—includes earth science educational ventures at all levels.
Q

What is the goal of the International Year?

The goal of the Year is to recognize and draw attention to the benefits of the earth sciences for society. The United Nations proclaimed the year 2008 as the official International Year of Planet Earth with science and outreach activities spanning through 2009. The IYPE initiative is the largest international effort of its kind to promote the Earth sciences.
Q

How is GSA involved with the International Year of Planet Earth?

  • GSA helped organize a U.S. National Committee for IYPE. Members are focused on a lecture series, educational programs, and efforts to bring greater awareness of the earth sciences to benefit socitey.
  • Working through the U.S. National Committee, GSA intends to establish a legacy of international cooperation on geoscience issues of global significance.

 

IYPE logo


volcano

“The aim of the International Year of Planet Earth is to demonstrate new and exciting ways in which Earth sciences can help future generations meet the challenges involved in ensuring a safer and more prosperous world.”

— Earth Sciences for Society

 


2008 Joint Annual Meeting

 


Colorado River


“The initiative will seek to raise the awareness of the contribution to, and role of, the Earth sciences in society in the minds of politicians, decision-makers, the media, and the general public.”

— Earth Sciences for Society

 

Earth Day
Flyer for the
2008 Earth Day celebration
in Costa Rica.

U.S. Events to Promote IYPE

View IYPE press releases.
IYPE U.S. Lecture Series
The U.S. National Committee for the IYPE will be hosting an earth science lecture series in various cities around the country.
    • See current list of IYPE lectures
    • How to submit your lecture


Colorado
Connecticut
Nevada
Ohio
Oregon
Texas
Washington D.C.

IYPE Global Events

Click here to see a list of events around the world.

Education & Research Themes of the IYPE

  • Groundwater—Toward sustainable use
  • Hazards—Minimizing risk, maximizing awareness
  • Earth & Health—Building a safer environment
  • Climate—The “stone tape”
  • Resources—Toward sustainable use
  • Megacities—Going deeper, building safer
  • Deep Earth—From crust to core
  • Ocean—Abyss of time
  • Soils—Earth’s living skin
  • Earth & Life—Origins of diversity

Click here for a full description on each theme.

A prospectus and downloadable brochure on each theme is available at www.yearofplanetearth.org

The overall theme for the Year is Earth Sciences for Society,
with a purpose to:

  • Reduce risks to society caused by natural and human-induced hazards
  • Reduce health problems by improving the understanding of the medical aspects of Earth science
  • Discover new natural resources and make available in a sustainable manner
  • Build safer structures and expand urban areas utilizing natural subsurface conditions
  • Determine the non-human factors in climatic change
  • Enhance the understanding of occurrences of natural resources in order to contribute to efforts to reduce political tension
  • Detect deep and poorly accessible ground-water resources
  • Improve the understanding of the evolution of life
  • Increase interest in the Earth sciences in society at large
  • Encourage more young people to study the Earth sciences at universities

Participating Organizations and Members of the U.S. National Committee for the IYPE
IYPE logo
IYPE Home page  |  Visit Global IYPE Web site  |  GSA Home Page