[iris-bulk] Earth Science Literacy Draft Document: open for comment

[IRIS]

The NSF-supported Earth Science Literacy Initiative has prepared a  
draft document outlining what every citizen should know about earth  
science, and we are seeking community input on the draft. We hope that  
you will take the time to provide your input, because this document  
will provide a clear and concise summary of the fundamental ideas in  
earth science for policy makers, educators, students, and the general  
public.

In order to read and comment on the draft, please go to http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org 
  before October 31st, 2008. We will then incorporate community  
comments, add graphics, and release a revised draft by early December.  
The final document will be printed toward the end of January.

This document complements the efforts of the Ocean, Climate and  
Atmospheric science communities in defining the big ideas and  
supporting concepts essential for an earth system literate public. The  
Earth Sciences draft was developed through an NSF-supported, 350- 
participant online workshop held in May, 2008 and a 35-participant, in- 
person writing workshop held in July, 2008.  These workshops brought  
together scientists from a broad representation of the geosciences,  
including mineralogists, petrologists, resource explorationists,  
sedimentologists and stratigraphers, paleontologists, tectonicists,  
geophysicists, geomorphologists, low-temperature geochemists and  
biogeochemists, continental dynamicists, volcanologists, geohazard  
specialists, and members of the freshwater hydrologic science community.

This is a critical time for our science - the geosciences can play a  
critical role in helping society meet the challenges of natural  
hazards and human impacts on the environment.  Please help us make  
this document the best it can be!

***Special Announcement: GSA Town Hall Meeting***
There will be a Town Hall meeting at the GSA Meeting on The Earth  
Science Literacy Initiative. The meeting will be at noon on Monday,  
October 6, in Room 342AD of the George R. Brown Convention Center. All  
are welcome to hear of the progress of the ESLI project and offer  
commentary.



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