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IYPE IN CANADA
Activities related to the 2008 United Nations proclaimed International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) are now underway. The guiding premise of “Earth Sciences for Society” is embodied by the Canadian banner “W.H.E.R.E. on Earth; W.H.E.R.E. in Canada” and this acronym reveals 5 special Canadian themes:
Water, Hazards, Energy, Resources, Environment
Exciting things are ahead at local, provincial, and national levels; geoscientists from all walks of life, government, universities, geological surveys, and industry are involved. IYPE has chosen an Honorary Patron, Canadian astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar. A Canadian National Committee for The Year (CNC-IYPE) is coordinating our efforts, and most geoscience organizations, societies, CFES, and the GSC are supporting this “once in a generation” opportunity.
A Canadian IYPE web site has been set up to describe what’s happening
CNC-IYPE and individual geological organizations are laying out plans for many special events across the country in 2007-2009, focusing on Outreach; many will explain to the public (of all ages and professions) why the geosciences are so important to our well being. More than 50 other countries are doing similar things; these international activities can be checked out on http://yearofplanetearth.org. Canadian activities will include a dozen regional IYPE events, developing an online Earth Sciences resource for students, teachers, and the general public, a high-profile official “launch” early in 2008, a sponsored lecture series related to the themes of IYPE, and new geology brochures for the public. A new book “Four Billion Year and Counting” (prepared by leading Canadian geologists) is in the final stages of preparation (see http://cfes-fcst.ca/fby). The recent popular series on CBC “Geologic Journey” (www.cbc.ca/geologic) was in part sponsored by IYPE, and the 30-second commercial of that program is what you heard when you opened this GAC web site—again, W.H.E.R.E on Earth; W.H.E.R.E. in Canada. There will be a contest for 18-22 year-old students about Earth sciences and society (see http://www.yearofplanetearth.org), with prizes being a trip to the international IYPE launch event at UNESCO in Paris this February.
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