NEWS RELEASE: Wyoming Geological Survey Offers Earth Science Week Toolkits

 Earth Science Week Toolkits now Available 

The Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) is once again offering complimentary toolkits to science classrooms across the state in celebration of Earth Science Week 2020.

The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) provides 50 toolkits to the WSGS to distribute to Wyoming teachers on a first come, first serve basis. Education materials in toolkits are suitable for middle-school-age students and include resources about minerals; water, environmental, energy, and soil sciences; geoscience measurement; rocks; paleontology; seismology and earthquake; agriculture; and more.

The WSGS will add Wyoming-specific resources to the toolkit, including a minerals worksheet, information pamphlets about geology in various state parks, and rock samples.

Earth Science Week 2020 is Oct. 11–17, and the theme of this year’s event is “Earth Materials in Our Lives.” According to the AGI, the focus is on ways that Earth materials impact humans—and the ways human activity impacts these materials—in the 21^st century.

“Earth Science Week 2020 will explore a host of related questions: As scientists, engineers, inventors and others use raw materials to design innovative technologies and goods to meet human needs, how do we evaluate costs and benefits of using Earth materials? How do we adopt policies and practices that allow us to take advantage of the unique properties of raw materials efficiently, generating value while minimizing negative impacts both locally and globally?” the AGI website states. “How do we address the complex, interrelated issues like resource management, waste management, biodiversity, climate change, circular economics, life cycle analysis, and models of sustainability?”

Due to COVID-19, the WSGS and University of Wyoming Geological Museum canceled their annual Earth Science Week event. However, look for daily activities and fun-fact posts on the Survey's social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) throughout Earth Science Week.

“We hope that teachers and students both in the classroom and at home will enjoy the toolkits and online activities exploring earth science in general and in Wyoming,” says Dr. Erin Campbell, director of the WSGS.  “There is so much to learn about our world, and we need future scientists to help us solve those question and challenges.” 

To request one of the 50 complimentary toolkits, contact Christina George at christina.george@wyo.gov. Toolkits can also be purchased from the AGI’s website.