By BETSY CAMPEN

Editor's note: Campen is chair of AAPG's Youth Education Activities Committee.

Are You Spreading the Word?

Geologists Proselyte the Science

Earth Science Week

Earth Science Week 2003, with the theme "Eyes on Planet Earth: Monitoring Our Changing World," will be celebrated Oct. 12-18, and will have four national contests that are associated with the theme.

In marking the sixth annual Earth Science Week, the "Eyes on Planet Earth" theme focuses on the important work performed every day by geoscientists throughout the world.

With the American Geological Institute acting as international coordinator, activities -- such as essay and photography contests -- are being planned by a number of AAPG societies as well as state geological surveys.

Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia are also Earth Science Week participants.

AGI is providing information kits and a packet for event planners designed for those interested in planning their own event or want to get involved with Earth Science Week on an organization level.

For Earth Science Week information see http://www.earthsciweek.org/.

Everyone talks about how all of us, as geoscientists and as AAPG members, should be concerned about the future of our profession and industry.

Everyone agrees that the key to tomorrow lies with the youth of today.

But who is doing something about it?

In some cases, a lot of people are -- and these reports are intended to show how some members of the AAPG Youth Educational Activities Committee are helping to prepare for the future by providing educational outreach programs and activities.

It's also intended to inspire others to join the effort.

Yes, even you.

One of the major goals of the YEA, after all, is to aid members' efforts in volunteering in their own school systems and neighborhoods.

For example, we all have received that telephone call asking us to come "talk about geology" to the third grade. Mostly we can't remember on what level third graders think, where our rock collection is, and whether we can even identify (much less discuss) the rocks in that box!

Our goal is to provide a "cookbook" for the members to use on those occasions. We hope to have sample study plans, such as the one provided here by Autumn Rhodes and Tom Repine, so that you will be able to go to the YEA Web page, download materials for your third grade talk and then wing it.

AAPG is working closely with AGI on Earth Science Week (left), a great way to get started. I urge each society to have an ESW committee.

In October we hope that each of you will go to at least one school during Earth Science Week and just talk about geology. Following are a few examples of how to get involved.

Due to funding cutbacks in most states, very little earth science is being taught. Each of us remembers what inspired us to become a geologist. Please take it upon yourself to go inspire some other young mind to go into geology. Your efforts can only help the oil and gas industry.

We welcome new members, and we would appreciate any ideas that you or your society would be willing to share with AAPG members. Just go to the AAPG home page, click on Education, and then at the bottom of the page K-12.

Getting Back to Nature

And the Winners Are ...

Reaching Out

Back to School

A Family Affair

Going With the Flow

Passion + Geology = Normal

Teaching the Teachers

Teacher of the Year Program Promotes Geology in Schools

Each year, the AAPG Foundation gives a $5,000 award for Excellence in the Teaching of Natural Resources in the Earth Sciences to the K-12 teacher chosen as AAPG's Earth Science Teacher of the Year.

The award includes $2,500 to the teacher's school for the winning teacher's use, and $2,500 for the teacher's personal use.

Amy John, an impressive eighth grade earth science teacher at TseBitAi Middle School in Shiprock, N.M., was chosen as the 2003 winner (February EXPLORER).

All affiliated societies are invited to conduct a local contest and submit their winning entry to their appropriate AAPG Section. The Section winners are submitted to Tulsa for the AAPG-level contest.

For the 2004 award, to be presented at the annual meeting in April in Dallas, a letter inviting participation has been sent to all Section and Affiliated Society presidents. Societies should submit their local winners to the appropriate Section, and the Section winners should be submitted to headquarters by Nov. 1.

More information and entry forms can be obtained by contacting Rebecca Griffin (918-560-2644 or ).