15-7 Earth Science Week: An International Platform for Broadening Participation in the Geosciences

Session: Geoscience Outreach Efforts to Broaden Participation, Part I

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Abstract:

Earth Science Week is an annual international public engagement program facilitated by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) that leverages partnerships, thematic resources, and educator-focused events to broaden participation in the geosciences. For more than 25 years, Earth Science Week (ESW) has served as a sustained, adaptable framework for outreach, designed to showcase the relevance of geoscience in everyday life and inspire engagement across diverse educational settings worldwide. 

This presentation highlights how ESW serves as a platform for broadening participation in the geosciences among students, teachers, undergraduates, and geoscience-curious public through a multifaceted approach that includes free educational toolkits, a robust online resource database, national and international contests, and partnerships with geoscience institutions, agencies, and societies. Each year’s theme, such as 2025’s “Energy Resources for Our Future”, emphasizes the societal relevance of geoscience and encourages educators to connect scientific concepts with students’ lived experiences and local communities. In addition to the theme, ESW features focus days such as Geoscience for Everyone Day, International EarthCache Day, and Geologic Map Day, which promote inclusive access to tools, data, and ideas and are designed to engage a wide range of audiences. 

A central component of ESW is the promotion and facilitation of publicly available geoscience resources from organizations such as the Geological Society of America, U.S. Geological Survey, National Earth Science Teachers Association, the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, among many others. ESW-related workshops provide guidance on accessing low-prep, high-impact activities. These activities are designed to reduce barriers to outreach by requiring minimal materials and offering flexible implementation strategies that allow educators and outreach professionals to modify lessons based on learners’ needs, interests, and locations. This approach empowers geoscience professionals and educators alike to engage students and the public in meaningful, place-based learning. 

Ultimately, Earth Science Week is more than a single event—it is a year-round catalyst for learning, community engagement, and inspiring the next generation of geoscientists.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-10545

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