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Publications

Why an International Year of Planet Earth? –To demonstrate the great potential of the Earth sciences in the building of a safer, healthier and wealthier Society –To encourage Society to apply this potential more effectively

Who is behind it? –Initiated by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) –Co-initiated by UNESCO’s Earth Science Division –11 Founding Partners, 18 Associate Partners

11 Founding Partners –IUGG –IGU –IUSS –ISRIC –ILP –IAEG + ISRM + ISSMGE Consortium –GeolSoc London –TNO-NITG –INQUA –AGI –AAPG

18 Associate Partners IUGS- Affiliated Organisations –IAH –IPA –SEG –SGA –IAGOD –GSAfrica –SEPM –CCOP –AGID Other Associate Partners –ICSU –IGCP –IOC –EFG –AARSE –ProGeo –SCA –UNU –UN/ISDR

Timing –Triennium: 2007 – 2009 –2008: UN Year –Implementation starts in 2006 –Wind-up in 2010

Focus –Science –Outreach

Essentials in Science Programme –Soundly based in the geosciences –Global in scope –Holistic & multidisciplinary –Human impact integral –Potential for Developing Countries –Potential for effective Outreach –Essentially ‘bottom-up’ in approach

10 Science Themes Groundwater 1.Groundwater – towards sustainable use Hazards 2. Hazards – minimising risk, maximising awareness Earth and Health 3. Earth and Health – building a safer environment Climate 4. Climate – the “stone tape” Resources 5. Resources – prosperity and sustainability Megacities 6. Megacities – going deeper, building safer Deep Earth 7. Deep Earth – from crust to core Ocean 8. Ocean – abyss of time Soils 9. Soils - the living skin of the Earth Life 10. Life - pending

Outreach ProgrammeAims: –Generate greater awareness among the public of the wide-ranging importance of the geosciences for human life and prosperity –Stimulate awareness of the societal contributions of the geosciences within national education systems –Increase understanding of the societal importance of the geosciences on the part of decision-makers

Outreach Programme General –Same general criteria, size and budget as the Science Programme –Build on foundation-sponsors’ funding –Responsive to project bids, and so ‘bottom-up’ in line with the Science Programme –Multilingual –Application process continuous (no ‘rounds’)

Outreach Programme Examples –Cooperation to enhance awareness: affiliate with the Year –Recycling and enhancing educational material –Support scientists from countries with weak economies –Citizen science: involve public in research –Competitions –Stories (news, books) –Programme making –Art commissioning

Websitewww.yearofplanetearth.orgwww.esfs.org

Publications

Towards UN support Three steps (bottom-up) per country: –Collect support from national geoscience communities –Secure support at political (Ministry) level –Obtain support at United Nations level by way of Ministries of Foreign Affairs

Political support building up... Argentina Australia Austria Brazil Cameroon Canada China Germany India Israel Italy Jordan Kazakhstan Lithuania Mauritius Mexico Mozambique Namibia Netherlands Pakistan Poland Romania Russian Federation South Africa Tanzania Zambia Steps112233

From Council to UN General Assembly.. Three steps: 2. Approval Declaration by IUGS/IGC Council (26 August ‘04) 3. Adoption by UNESCO’s Executive Board (28 April ‘05) 4. Proclamation by UN General Assembly & UNESCO’s General Conference (October ‘05)

Draft Resolution support in the Executive Board –Algeria –Brazil –Burkina Faso –Canada –China –Egypt –Germany –Ghana Italy –Jamaica –Kenya –Mauritius –Morocco –Mozambique –Namibia –Pakistan –Russian Federation –Rwanda –Senegal –Slovenia –Sri Lanka –Swaziland –Tanzania –Turkey –Ukraine

Global political support

Summary –Support: –Support: 36 nations: 3,7 billion people –Draft Resolution adopted by UNESCO’s Executive Board –11 Founding Partners, 18 Associate Partners –IUGS/IGC Council Declaration adopted by 140 nations –Science: –Science: 9 Themes identified + a 10 th pending –6 science brochures printed, 7 on website –2 in design, 1 in development –Outreach: –Outreach: Web site, brochures & flyer printed; Newsletter; Outreach brochure printed –Linked –Linked with IPY, eGY and IHY

Management Team –Eduardo de Mulder (Chair) –Edward Derbyshire (Chair Science programme Committee) –Ted Nield (Chair Outreach Programme Committee) –Marlan Downey (Chair Development Committee) –Werner Janoschek (Treasurer and representative IUGS) –Wolfgang Eder (Representative UNESCO) –Eduardo Rubio (Representative Latin America) –Felix Toteu (Representative Africa) –Andrej Volkov (Representative Russian Federation) –Larry Woodfork (Representative Northern America) –Li Zhijian (Representative People's Republic of China) –Charles Barton (eGY liaison)

What next? –Discuss Resolution in UN General Assembly and UNESCO’s General Conference –Collect more political support –Fundraising by Development Committee –Design formal organisational structure –Publish remaining Science brochures –Promote activities at national and regional levels

What can we offer? –A political and scientific platform –A 10-themes science programme –An exciting Outreach programme

What do we want from I*Y? –Cooperation in science programmes (including data & information) –Cooperation in outreach activities –Operate in a consortium and preferably under ‘(Planet) Earth sciences for Society’ banner