Developing a Framework for Earth Science Literacy II: Big Ideas and Supporting Concepts

The NSF-funded Earth Science Literacy Initiative (ESLI) is in the process of identifying the “big ideas” and “supporting concepts” fundamental to terrestrial geosciences. The effort seeks to create community consensus about what all Americans should understand about Earth sciences. This literacy framework, written by geoscientists working with geoeducators, will have broad-reaching applications in both public and private arenas.

We have defined the content scope to include the geosphere and land-based hydrosphere as addressed by the NSF-EAR program, such that the resulting ESLI framework eventually becomes part of the foundation - along with similar documents from the Oceans, Atmospheres, Climate and other communities - of a larger geoscience Earth Systems Literacy effort. The ESLI scope includes Geobiology and Low-Temperature Geochemistry, Geomorphology and Land-Use Dynamics, Geophysics, Hydrologic Sciences, Petrology and Geochemistry, Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology, and Tectonics.

Agreement was easy to reach on some topics integral to our study of the Earth, such as deep time and resource availability. Others, such as issues of human cohabitation with Earth, were not as easy to simply express. The July in-person workshop, a subset of the larger online workshop involved much iteration and discussion of the essential content. The draft document is now available at www.earthscienceliteracy.org for public comment to gain wider community feedback and input.

The 21st century will be defined by geoscience topics like water availability, mineral and energy resources, and climate change. Humanity's future will rest upon how these issues are addressed over the next 100 years. Many important educational, political, legal and ethical decisions are being made related to these issues that already severely affect the lives of all Americans. The construction of a clear document, created by both geoscientists and geoeducators, will help provide future decision-makers at all levels with the scientific guidance needed to make intelligent choices.