Thursday, November 26, 2020


Open letter by IAPG-Peru on Peruvian paleontological heritage 


The open letter by IAPG-Peru (in Spanish) warns about the proposal for a Law on the Paleontological Heritage of Peru: recent parliamentary initiatives proposed that the administration of paleontological heritage is assigned to the Peruvian Ministry of Culture. Fossil protection would be assigned to personnel with no expertise in paleontology. In this perspective the use of fossils for scientific purposes would be strongly hampered. For these and other reasons, this law will be detrimental to scientific development in Paleontology, leading to arbitrariness, bureaucracy and corruption. Within this framework, the Open Letter of IAPG Peru calls for action by citizens and authorities to consider fossils as a scientific heritage.





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IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics

Wednesday, November 25, 2020



New paper:

Geoethics and New Medias: Sharing Knowledge and Values

by Vida Drąsutė, Stefano Corradi, Silvia Peppoloni, Giuseppe Di Capua


Abstract:
Today’s widespread diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has accelerate the access and circulation of information. Although relevant benefits have been produced thanks to the incredible spread and speed of information, on the other hand this speed has also enlarged the demand for content, causing a tremendous downfall in accuracy and veracity of information. This phenomenon is particularly visible in the domain of scientific journalism. To counteract this negative consequence, geoethics indicates engaging in science communication as one of the responsibilities of a geoscientist. However, even if the relevance of this duty is almost universally recognized, generally geoscientists lack the proper digital skills to effectively use new media. As most of the content shared and consumed on the internet is delivered through new platforms, we contend that geoscientists should be trained in specific digital skills in order to improve the effectiveness of their science communication. Within this study, firstly, the above mentioned considerations will be proven discussing the current state of scientific journalism and the relevance of teaching geoethics at higher education level. Secondly, an analysis of the most needed digital communication skills for geoscientists will be conducted. Finally, building on the results reached in the previous sections, it will be presented a suggestion on the best way to include digital skills courses within the framework of geoethics and geosciences. The innovative aspect of this research lays in its multidisciplinarity, as it links geosciences, science communication and ICTs. Moreover, as training in geoethics has not been implemented in the geosciences curricula, yet, this paper aims to spread its knowledge and provide guidelines to its implementation at Higher Education. 

Download the paper (pdf):

This paper can be cited as follows:

Drąsutė V., Corradi S., Peppoloni S., Di Capua G. (2020). Geoethics and New Medias: Sharing Knowledge and Values. In: 10th The Future of Education International Conference – Virtual, Conference Proceedings, Filodiritto Editore, Bologna, https://conference.pixel-online.net/FOE/files/foe/ed0010/FP/6590-SCI4598-FP-FOE10.pdf.


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Publications on geoethics:

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics

Earth first, Mars later

by José Martín Cabello Lechuga*


Economic Geologist, Science communicator, Past President, Sociedad Geológica de Chile (Geological Society of Chile)
email: cabello.lechuga@vtr.net


José Martín Cabello Lechuga
As Astronomy is the oldest in the Natural Sciences, it is not uncommon for many people today to dream of traveling to Mars which is on average 65 million kilometers from my beloved blue planet with the aim of installing a human colony. There's talk of having a million earths on the red planet. As an admirer and amateur of our immense universe I wanted to analyze this attractive proposal from my scientific point of view given my profession as a geologist obtained from the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Chile where several of our most outstanding astronomers have trained.

The first thing was to know how healthy for a human being is to live on Mars. And I came across a planet without vegetation, described as a wind-scoured desert with virtually no water in liquid state and with horrific average temperatures (-46oC) for any homo sapiens. Its atmosphere is composed of 95% carbon dioxide with a weak ozone layer too feeble to block ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The average pressure is equivalent to the pressure of the Earth's atmosphere at a height of 35,000 meters. Another climate element to consider are the intense dust storms, the largest, strongest and most durable in the entire Solar System. The wind can reach 100 kilometers per hour, and the storm lasts for months.

I was left thinking that it does not seem to be such a good place to live but that it should most be very cheap to travel there during 9 months, as well as install a colony on the red planet. I checked the figures published and found that sending humans to Mars would take only $ 500 billion. By way of comparison with that figure we could finance a 17 million people nation's budget for almost 7 years.

It seemed to me then that it was a good time to re-check how good it is to live on Earth. Our blue planet is at the right distance from the Sun to have optimal surface temperatures for living things. Its vast oceans have remained liquid, since shortly after its formation about 4.5 billion years ago. It is the only planet with plate tectonics, which recycles nutrients and other essential materials for life through the inside of the planet and back to the surface.

Earth is unique in sustaining an atmosphere that is one-fifth of oxygen, which was generated by single-celled organisms and that drove the evolution of multicellular organisms. The materials we use come from Earth: fuels, minerals, groundwater, even our food (through soil, water and fertilizers).

We have a mental affinity for certain places on Earth, for the regions where we grow and live, and for the wild and beautiful landscapes, whether preserved in parks or in our everyday environment. It is a welcome home for humans with its blue color for its water, white for its clouds, and green for its life. An incomparable planet in our solar system, and probably very rare in the universe. But we have altered the surface extensively during our occupation: construction structures, burning forests and meadows, damming rivers. Almost daily we are informed of large fires, floods, seas and polluted skies in many parts of the world. And in many countries we have absurdly sacrificial zones affecting their inhabitants. We are a planet with almost no effective territorial ordering.

The process of understanding the Earth has just begun. We need to understand the complexities of terrestrial systems so that humans survive and thrive for more than a moment in geological time. We must find and develop the resources needed to sustain and improve the human condition, especially when we are living through Climate Change and its consequences.

So it is meritorious to prioritize understanding and above all the care of our planet, which requires urgently dedicating adequate budgets. And once we solve all the pressing problems affecting our ecosystems and their inhabitants, only then will we invest to travel throughout the Universe.

Sounds like a good time to request: Earth first, Mars later.

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Other articles published in the IAPG Blog:

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics

Monday, November 23, 2020


Video recording of the October 19th 2020 webinar on geoethics now available! 


The Early Career Scientists Team (ECST) of the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics (https://www.geoethics.org/ecst), in cooperation with AGI - American Geosciences Institute (https://www.americangeosciences.org), organized a webinar on geoethics on 19 October 2020.

Here the link to the video recording of the webinar:




Through this event the IAPG celebrated the International Geoethics Day 2020 (https://www.geoethics.org/geoethics-day).

Speakers: Giuseppe Di Capua, Cristina Toma, Silvia Peppoloni, Alexandra Cardoso, Daniel DeMiguel, Sebastian Handl, Cesar Oboni, Linda Gundersen
Moderators: Jonathan Rizzi and Barbara Zambelli

​Download the leaflet of the webinar:

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IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics

Friday, November 20, 2020




GSAf and IAPG signed an Agreement for Cooperation 


GSAf (Geological Society of Africa) and IAPG (International Association for Promoting Geoethics) signed an Agreement for Cooperation on 19 November 2020. The agreement expresses a mutual desire to cooperate on a range of themes in the field of geoethics. It helps to assure a continued IAPG–GSAf cooperation and coordination on issues of common interests in Africa, in particular, the following:

- Theoretical aspects of geoethics;
- Analyses of geoethical problems and dilemmas, also through case-studies;
- Co-organization of scientific events on geoethics;
- Production of relevant publications.

Both organizations will establish a liaison to ensure good information flow and cooperation. 

IAPG and GSAf agree:

1) To promote joint initiatives and events in Africa on themes of common interest through their webpages, social networks, and publications;
2) To foster cooperation in projects and activities on themes of common interest;
3) When appropriate, involve respectively GSAf and IAPG in their publications and in scientific meetings/congresses on ethics, geoethics and philosophy of geosciences organized by GSAf and IAPG;
4) To include their logos in the respective websites with the URL.

GSAf agrees to support the "Cape Town Statement on Geoethics" (that contains the Geoethical Promise, an Hippocratic-like oath for geoscientists, https://www.geoethics.org/ctsg) and agrees to be included in the list of 25 supporting organizations of the statement.

GSAf (http://gsafr.org/) is a not-for-profit Scientific and Professional Society for Earth scientists established to encourage geoscientific collaboration and cooperation across the continent. GSAf is an affiliated organization of the IUGS – the International Union of Geological Sciences.

IAPG has 7 affiliations, 23 agreements for cooperation, 4 partnerships:

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IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics

Thursday, November 19, 2020


IAPG endorses the eLearning Course
"Practical Geocommunication" 


Dear IAPG member,

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics has recently endorsed the eLearning course ‘Practical Geocommunication’ offered by Geologize Ltd. Geologize teaches geoscientists to bring the public to a great understanding and appreciation of our planet through effective and powerful communication.

To find out more about the course, please check out the following video:

As a member of an endorsing association, you now have a 60% discount on the course fee.

Your unique access code is: iapg-pggz

Here’s how to start your learning experience!

2) Click on 'BUY $450’
3) Register (Free)
4) Click on the link ‘Have a coupon?’
5) Enter the code I have given you above. This will apply the discount.
6) Pay the remaining value.
7) Start learning!

The number of times this coupon can be used is limited to the current membership of the IAPG, so I kindly request that it not be shared with those outside the IAPG.

Learners follow the course at their own pace and you will have lessons, quizzes, assignments and the opportunity to interact directly with myself, Dr Haydon Mort. A certificate is provided at the end of the course, with the seals of the IAPG, The Geological Society of London and the European Federation of Geologists, who also endorse the course.

All the best,
Haydon Mort


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Dr. Haydon Mort
CEO-Director Geologize Ltd
Geologist, Science Communicator



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IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics

Wednesday, November 18, 2020


News from IAPG-Peru


The Peruvian Section of the International Association for the Promotion of Geoethics (IAPG) has been legally constituted and registered under Peruvian laws with the Superintendency of Public Registry (SUNARP). Its registration as a non-profit organization (NPO) in Peru (certificate of registration number: 14469053) was carried out on March 4th, 2020. 
This result was achieved thanks to the commitment of the Peruvian board (commission led by Daniel Peña) who worked in the last 2 years to get the legal status for IAPG-Peru. 
Being an NPO in Peru, IAPG-Peru has now an official legitimacy and credibility to work in the country, in order to approach different stakeholders to develop cooperative actions for continuing to promote the IAPG goals in more transparent and effective way.

IAPG-Peru is the third section legally registered in its country, after IAPG-Italy and IAPG-Nigeria.


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Other IAPG national section:

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics

Monday, November 16, 2020



IAPG is partner of the EDIG Conference

14-16 December 2020


The IAPG supports the EDIG Conference on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Geoscience.

From EDIG project:

Conference description
To help us better understand the challenges faced by many people in the geoscience community, we recently ran a survey asking people about their experiences with equality, diversity, and inclusion related topics. We have been working with the survey data to structure an online conference, now planned for the 15-16th of December. There will be an ice breaker style event on the evening of the 14th.

The conference will be run over 2 days, with 3 sessions (talks and panel discussions) and a workshop focusing on unconscious bias. Speakers will be announced shortly.

Session 1 (12.00 pm GMT; 2 hours 30 min): This will focus on a broad look of where we have come from and how we all need to come together to make geoscience more accessible. We will also be presenting a summary of our survey results.

Session 2 (15.00 pm GMT; 2 hours): This session will focus on the specific challenges and barriers to access that many groups experience.

Session 3 (12.00 pm GMT; 2 hours): The final session will look at what is being done to promote inclusion and remove barriers, how we can improve retention, and discuss challenges faced by early career geoscientists.

Workshop: To close the EDIG conference, we are hosting a workshop on unconscious bias, run by DiverseMatters (www.diversematters.org). The workshop will be using the results of our recent survey and is co-sponsored by iCRAG and IGI.

To register, visit the EDIG conference eventbrite page:





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Other events in the IAPG calendar:

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics

Tuesday, November 3, 2020


Geoethics at the EGU 2021

The call for abstracts is open
(deadline: 13 January 2021, 13:00 CET) 


We are glad to announce that IAPG co-sponsors two sessions and a short course at the EGU 2021:

Session EOS4.2: Geoethics: Geosciences serving Society
Convenership: Silvia Peppoloni and Giuseppe Di Capua

Session EOS3.2: Climate literacy:  Learning, education, methods and roadmaps
Convenership: David Crookall, Giuseppe Di Capua, Lydie Lescarmontier, Robin Matthews, Frank Niepold

Short Course SC4.4: Foundations and Perspectives of Geoethics for Earth, Marine and Atmospheric Sciences - In memoriam of Jan Boon
Convenership: Eduardo Marone, Giuseppe Di Capua, Silvia Peppoloni

Details (session and short course descriptions, links for abstract submission): 

In 2021, the IAPG will celebrate 10 years of its sessions on geoethics at the EGU General Assembly.


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IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics