The "Journal of Geoethics and Social Geosciences" was born

The new journal: an international space for the discussion on the issues of geoethics and social geosciences

Proposing articles on the ethical, social and cultural implications of geosciences, promoting study and research aimed at accompanying safe and sustainable development policies for human communities, providing transdisciplinary food for thoughts and defining proposals and actions aimed at addressing global anthropogenic changes: these are just some of the objectives of the recently launched "Journal of Geoethics and Social Geosciences" of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV: National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology), Rome, Italy.

Silvia Peppoloni
(JGSG Editor-in-Chief)

"Geosciences address numerous issues including defense against natural risks, research and use of georesources, and climate change. These themes have direct repercussions on the structures and processes of society and on people's lives", explains Silvia Peppoloni, researcher at INGV, Editor-in-Chief of the new journal and Secretary General of the International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG). "For this reason, the topics of interest for geosciences have also to be analyzed from new perspectives that include ethical, social, economic and political considerations."

An increasing number of researchers from various disciplinary backgrounds are dedicating themselves to basic and applied research on the themes of interest for geoethics and social geosciences, with a growing publishing production of books and articles. Yet, there was no scientific journal entirely dedicated to these themes so far.

"To fill this gap", continues the researcher, "INGV has promoted and supported the creation of an open access journal, without publication costs for both authors and readers, also open to contributions from those who work in the sector of human and social sciences in a pluridisciplinary perspective".

The journal, published in English, employs an international team of experts in the fields of geoethics, social geosciences, and the philosophy of geosciences, with backgrounds in scientific, social and humanistic disciplines.

"Among the addressed topics, large space will be given to the responsible management of georesources, to ethical and social aspects in geo-environmental education and in the communication of geosciences, but also to the philosophy of geosciences, the history of geological and environmental thought and the issues of the professional working environment, with particular attention to inclusiveness, diversity, harassment, discrimination and disability".

"The multidisciplinary nature of the contributions constitutes a necessary requisite to face the global anthropogenic changes that threaten the quality of life of present and future generations, from different points of view. The new journal proposes itself as an international reference point for ideas, reflections and proposals capable of analyzing crucial issues of our time from new perspectives", concludes Silvia Peppoloni.

The new journal is supported by the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics.

​Website of the Journal of Geoethics and Social Geosciences:

https://www.journalofgeoethics.eu/

Main characteristics of the new journal:

Open access: This is an open access journal. It means permanent and free access to published scientific works for readers and no publication fees for the authors – it is 100% free. Importantly, authors retain copyright of their work and allow it to be shared and reused, provided that it is correctly cited. Readers anywhere in the world may download, share or use the work, free of charge, providing that it is correctly cited. 

Copyright: Articles are published under the CC BY 4.0 license (Attribution 4.0 International).

DOI: Each published article has its unique DOI (Digital object identifier).

Language: English

____________________

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 

https://www.geoethics.org

Peter Bobrowsky awarded by the IUGS

The IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics is very happy for Peter Bobrowsky (IAPG Vice President) who received an award of the IUGS - International Union of Geological Sciences for his long and valuable service to the Union.

Congratulations Peter!

Download the flyer (pdf file)

____________________

Other events on the IAPG website:

https://www.geoethics.org/events

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

Geoethics in the IUGS60 event for the

UN World Water Day 2022

22 March 2022

Silvia Peppoloni (IUGS Councillor and IAPG Secretary General) gives a speech entitled "Responsible managament of water: a resource that recalls us to dialogue" at the IUGS60 virtual event for celebrating the World Water Day 2022.

See the video at: https://iugs60.org/world-water-day/

- IUGS60 website

- Download the flyer (pdf file)

____________________

Other events on the IAPG website:

https://www.geoethics.org/events

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

Session 10.2 

"Geoethics – fostering ethical perspectives in Geosciences"

THE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS IS OPEN

(deadline: 31 May 2022)

Session 10.2 title:

Geoethics – fostering ethical perspectives in Geosciences

Conveners: 

Dominic Hildebrandt (IAPG-Germany co-coordinator)

Simon Schneider (IAPG-Germany co-coordinator)

Martin Bohle (IAPG Board of Experts)

Session description:

Geoethics is a dynamically evolving concept framing various kinds of ethical aspects of Geoscience activities. As an expression of critical thinking and taking responsibility, Geoethics is fundamental to all kinds of Geoscience subdisciplines, however raising different types of questions and problems depending on the specific context. Many of these are intimately linked to specialties of our discipline, e.g. its historically male-dominated character as well as a strong focus on field work. With this session we aim to provide a platform for current works featuring critical analysis of 1) geoscience history and its implications, 2) intra-scientific issues such as gender inequalities or racism, 3) working methods and their implications for the environment, research objects and local communities, 4) geoscientists' work at the interface to society, politics and other stakeholders including geocommunication and geoeducation. We encourage you to submit your work to our session even if your specific topic is not covered above, but has a geoethical dimension.

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT:

https://www.geominkoeln2022.de/call-for-abstracts.html

Congress website:

https://www.geominkoeln2022.de/

____________________

Other events in the IAPG calendar:

https://www.geoethics.org/events

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

IAPG-Afghanistan organizes a webinar on groundwater to celebrate the UN World Water Day 2022

17 March 2022

14:00-16:00 (Kabul time/GMT+4:30)

From IAPG-Afghanistan: 

Under the auspices of IAPG (International Association for Promoting Geoethics) and IAH (International Association of Hydrogeologists), the IAPG-Afghanistan (Afghanistan section of the IAPG) joined with AIH-GP (Portuguese Chapter of the IAH), The Groundwater Project, and AWEP.Net (Afghanistan Water and Environment Professionals Network) to celebrate the United Nations-World Water Day 2022 with a Seminar dedicated to "Making Groundwater visible in Afghanistan". 

Among the speakers: Manuel Abrunhosa (IAPG Board of Experts) and Sebastian Handl (Board of the IAPG-ECST Early Career Scientists Team). Moderators: Mohammad Salem Hussaini and Asadullah Farahmand (Co-coordinators of IAPG-Afghanistan).

The webinar is open for online attendance of people from academia, research institutions, private and public sectors, and all interested in the theme.

To attend is necessary a registration before 16 March through the following link:

https://forms.gle/ejUzErJwNxKdfu2F7

Some words about the World Water Day and Afghanistan

For the first time, the UN World Water Day is dedicated to groundwater. In doing this, UN-Water called for worldwide awareness and action by proposing as theme “Making the invisible, visible”, an apparently strange stance.

In fact, groundwater is, by its nature, not visible as other water resources are, being found hidden underground in the aquifers. These are geological formations that contains water that enters there by several ways. To cite some, there is rain and snow melt, river and water channels infiltration, floods, irrigation surpluses, losses from mains in water supply or sewage systems, infiltrating water spills with surface pollutants, water transfer from other aquifers, and from managed infiltration ponds, all in general called recharge. Once there, it is hold as groundwater in a vast network of voids and tiny pores in the rocks and sediments. That water is kept always moving impelled by gravity and hydraulic pressure. It physically and chemically reacts along the path with the mineral and the microbiome media and may degrade or increase in pollutants. Accordingly, it changes the composition of its solutes during underground circulation, usually at small velocities and long distances, in near horizontal paths. Groundwater always ends reaching an exit from his aquifer, even if sometimes it is invisible. That can be a transfer to another aquifer, to the land surface, to a water body, as rivers, lakes, wetlands, the sea, also the biota, the atmosphere and, each day more and more, to millions and millions of artificial extraction spots (wells mainly) for human benefit.

All along his path groundwater moves invisible underground, sometimes unaccounted by who needs water, sometimes exploited by people that reasons incorrectly that the groundwater in his well is a resource of his own plot of land, not shared by his neighbor, and his neighbor neighbor’s, also thinking that groundwater is infinite, until the well goes dry, a situation that shouldn’t occur if the resource is professionally managed with support of sound science and engineering. 

This lack is basic knowledge about groundwater by lay people and some educated population outside the limited “groundwater people”, the Hydrogeologists, the Hydrologists, and some other technicians, exists worldwide irrespective of region and state of development.

To avoid an announced tragedy of water depletion and contamination, there is an urgent need for education in responsible citizenship for ethical actions, including the basic concepts about the Water Cycle and the Groundwater Cycle in curricula from elementary school to higher education courses. This is a worldwide groundwater project represented in this Seminar.

Hydrogeologists and Hydrologists for a long time ago feel a need to keep and develop control of all these mechanisms and its many variables, because they know that groundwater, as the natural water resource that corresponds globally to almost 99% of all liquid freshwater on the planet plays a vital role for the society and nature, not only at local level but also worldwide, interacting with all other “waters”, with climate, with society health and of the ecosystems, food production, energy. 

To act among this complex science, technology and management actions that connects with the most basic human needs, enough good and dedicated professionals are needed in stable technical organizations at the public administration level, having the necessary education and means to do their jobs. Universities and science funding institutions must dedicate curricula and support research to groundwater issues and international cooperation. Professionals, academics, and researchers are responsible persons that know what to do, but they are still few in some countries, and need to be invested to have a voice (a magic?) to make the invisible, visible. This is the role of independent Scientific and Professional associations, as are those that bring this Seminar to you.

Until now, the principle of “far from sight, far from the heart” ruled in what concerns groundwater. We, conscient professionals are aware that the result of this denial reaches soon a dramatic threshold, unfortunately already met by some populations and regions, mainly in disadvantaged countries in already water-scarce areas by its nature and aggravated by climate change. 

This explains the invisible characters of groundwater that the UN, and many organizations recognized, considers a duty to invert, for worldwide benefit in responsibility towards people and nature, to reach peace, sustainability, and sound development, with the basic aim of water for all.

Afghanistan shares this general situation with all the world. Hydrogeology in Afghanistan is in its infancy and should be encouraged and recognized as a tool for peace and development.

The most prolific aquifer systems in Afghanistan are within Quaternary and Neogene-Age alluvial deposits of major rivers and intermontane valleys. The groundwater geochemistry for most of the alluvial ground-water basins are dominated by the sodium bicarbonate with some magnesium bicarbonate. A further in-depth knowledge about these aspects and many others needs sustained and continued research, development, and innovation.

Climate change and some anthropogenic activities such as overuse of groundwater resources for drinking, commercial, agricultural purposes, land use and land cover changes, urban development and population growth and accumulation in urban centers have reduced the quantity and the quality of groundwater throughout the country. Groundwater is used for all purposes in the big cities of the country, and for this reason, the big cities face a serious water problem that connects with sanitation. 

In the rural areas groundwater is its main use and is expected to increase. Its conjunctive use with surface water and with more efficient irrigation, may contribute to a better protection of groundwater, surface water, and the rural economy and wellbeing of populations.

This webinar is a contribution, a first step, to make groundwater in Afghanistan from invisible, visible. Other steps will follow. 

We count on you.

Download the poster (pdf file)

This event in the World Water Day 2022 website:

https://www.worldwaterday.org/stories-2021/story/making-groundwater-visible-afghanistan

____________________

Other events in the IAPG calendar:

https://www.geoethics.org/events

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

2nd Conversation of Peruvian Women in Geosciences

8 March 2022

Organized by IAPG-Peru for the International Women Day. 

This event has the goal to share and disseminate the work and experience of outstanding geoscience professionals to reach out to other young women who are studying or looking to pursue a career in this field.

Panelists: Celia Plascencia, Yuli Mamani, Judith Sullón, Sandra Villacorta. Moderator: Luz Tejada.

These women in geosciences will share the challenges that led them to be professionals in the sector, and will also dialogue to help reducing the gender gap in Peru.

More (in Spanish):

http://geoeticaperu.blogspot.com/2018/11/curso-el-abc-de-la-mineria-por-efrain.html

____________________

Other events in the IAPG calendar:

https://www.geoethics.org/events

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

Session P7 

Geosciences and geoethics: 

achieving UN Agenda 2030

THE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS IS OPEN

Session P7 title:

Geosciences and geoethics: achieving UN Agenda 2030

Conveners: 

Francesca Lozar (Università di Torino), Elena Egidio (Università di Torino), Andrea Gerbaudo (Università di Torino), Marco Tonon (Università di Torino), Silvia Peppoloni (INGV).

Session description:

The United Nations 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent the global strategy for building a better world. Yet, the Earth system knowledge and services required to support the SDGs have been largely ignored. This omission is compounded by the lack of geoscience in the SDG debate, even if geoscientists play a crucial role to implement the SDGs and orient society towards a more sustainable future (georisk mitigation, energy transition, prudent georesource management, adaptation to climate change, pollution reduction, enhancement of geoeducation and geoscience communication…). Moreover, the SDGs cannot be achieved without the Earth Science community acknowledging that geoethics is a key for contextualising practices capable to face the challenges of the global anthropogenic changes, including reducing social inequalities and promoting inclusivity. Conveners invite colleagues to submit abstracts focused on ethical and social issues related to geoscience research and practice, on how geosciences can contribute to the 17 SDGs, on best professional practices and strategies for serving society that should be adopted, in order to create conditions for a sustainable and inclusive development of communities. The more significant contributions will be considered for publication in a special issue.

This session is sponsored by the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics (https://www.geoethics.org).

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT:

https://www.geoscienze.org/torino2022/index.php/en/abstracts-eng/guide-abstract

Congress website:

https://geoscienze.org/torino2022/index.php/sessioni/elenco-sessioni-2022#Cultural

____________________

Other events in the IAPG calendar:

https://www.geoethics.org/events

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

Croatian Geological Society supports the Cape Town Statement on Geoethics and provided its translation in Croatian

The Cape Town Statement on Geoethics is now available in Croatian

Hrvatsko Geološko Društvo (HGD) (Croatian Geological Society) is the 28th geoscience organization that supports the Cape Town Statement on Geoethics. This important document contains the Geoethical Promise.

Thanks to Dr. Zoran Peh (HGD) the Cape Town Statement on Geoethics and the Geoethical Promise are now available also in Croatian. The Cape Town Statement on Geoethics is translated in 36 languages.

More: Cape Town Statement on Geoethics

____________________

Other tools on the IAPG website:

https://www.geoethics.org/tools

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org