EARTH SCIENCE LITERACY PRINCIPLES: MAKING IMPACTS AND FORGING

CONNECTIONS

Michael Wysession Washington University

Karen Campbell National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics

Nicole LaDue Michigan State University

Gary Lewis GSA

John Taber IRIS

• Mineralogy• Petrology• Economic Geology• Sedimentology/

Stratigraphy• Paleontology• Tectonics• Geophysics

• Geomorphology• Geochemistry and

Biogeochemistry• Continental Dynamics• Volcanology• Geohazards• Freshwater Hydrologic

Sciences

What has not been addressed in previous efforts?

Organizing Committee

Chair: Michael Wysession, Washington UniversityCo-chair: John Taber, IRIS

David Budd, University of ColoradoKaren Campbell, National Center for Earth-surface DynamicsMartha Conklin, University of California, MercedNicole LaDue, NSFGary Lewis, GSARobert Raynolds, Denver Museum of Science and NatureRobert W. Ridky, USGSRobert Ross, PRIBarbara Tewksbury, Hamilton CollegePeter Tuddenham, College of Exploration

Process

Two-week asynchronous online workshopMay 11-23, 2008

~150 invited scientist participants~200 scientist and educator observers

Writing WorkshopJuly 21-23, 2008, Washington University, St. Louis MO

35 scientists and educators from academia, K-12, agencies

Community Comment PeriodsOnline feedback surveys

October 2008: GSA talk and townhallDecember 2008: AGU poster and townhall

• Earth Scientists use repeatable observations and testable ideas to understand and explain our planet

• Earth is 4.6 billion years old

• Earth is a complex system of interacting rock, water, air and life

• Earth is continuously changing

• Earth is the water planet

• Life evolves on a dynamic Earth and continuously modifies Earth

• Humans depend on Earth for resources

• Natural hazards pose risks to humans

• Humans significantly alter the Earth

9 Big Ideas

• Over 40,000 copies of brochure distributed to organizations and individuals so far– Includes 16,000 for 2009 AGI Earth Science Week packets and – 7000 distributed via Earth magazine

Getting the message out

• Colleges and universities across the US and internationally• National and regional scientific and educational meetings• Middle schools, high schools, 4H clubs, museums, parks• Institutions and individuals involved in the development of the

document• Professional Earth science related societies, • State Departments of Natural Resources, State Geologists

Getting the message out

• State curriculum writing – – Development of K-12 geoscience curriculum in the Beaumont

Independent School District (Beaumont, TX).• Shared with NRC/NAS Board on Science Education

– Revising NSES on cross-cutting themes

Alignment to Standards

• Foundation for Pearson Education’s Prentice Hall Earth Science Big Ideas in their new national middle school science program, Interactive Science– Module on "Water, Air, and Weather"

How are the literacy documents being used?

• Foundation for Pearson Education’s Earth Science Big Ideas – Module on Earth’s surface

• Required alignment in 2009 RFP by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for climate change videos

• Adapted for use in other related disciplines– Blogging on sand and the

9 big ideas - Michael Welland

How are the literacy documents being used?

• Windows to the Universe web site, along with others• AAPG??• Earth Scientist - NESTA??

Collaborations

• Work with undergraduate-level textbook authors• Versions for different audiences

– Policy makers– K12

• Integration into an Earth systems science framework

Potential Next Steps - invitation to others