A National Strategic Imperative

Earth and space science is of national strategic importance. To understand why, one needs to consider what Earth and space science is. Earth and space science is an integration and synthesis of physics, biology, chemistry, geology, oceanography, meteorology and all other sciences that study life, Earth and the heavens. Fueled by 21st century technologies like data visualizations, analysis tools, remotely-sensed imaging and satellite photography, it consolidates these fields to offer new systemic understandings of Earth's components. Over the last fifty years, Earth and space science has revolutionized how we view and know Earth and its systems.

This accumulating body of knowledge, however, is far from academic. Our quality of life, it is fair to say, depends on the quality of our Earth scientists. This is because understanding the land, air, water and life of our planet gives us the knowledge to best manage the world around us. Earth and space science enables us to learn from the past and prepare for the future. The procurement and use of all major energy sources-fossil fuels, solar, hydro and wind-are the direct result of Earth and space science. The same is true of our water supplies and renewable and non-renewable resources. How we use the land and build our cities, bridges and roadways are all determined by Earth and space science. Earth and space science allows us to forecast the weather, volcanoes and earthquakes, helping us to protect vulnerable populations from the forces of nature, and it informs us about sustaining growing populations, developing adequate food supplies and managing waste. Earth and space science addresses pressing environmental issues such as ozone depletion, global warming and threats to marine life.

From community development to resource planning, from emergency preparedness to energy management, we, as citizens, are increasingly called upon to make vital policy decisions that affect, if not define, our lives, the economy and the national well-being. We must know how to critically evaluate data, investigate the world around us, and assess environmental and economic impacts of our actions. To empower the electorate to arrive at informed and reasoned choices, our educational infrastructure must effectively teach Earth and space science to generation upon generation of students. Whether as citizens or as professionals, we require literacy in Earth and space science to ensure our prosperity.

Earth and space science education offers extraordinary opportunities for teaching scientific inquiry and critical-thinking skills, which have benefits even outside the field. Earth and space science is the most unifying domain in science and to learn it, students must amalgamate many basic disciplines to see life and nature as comprised of dynamic, interdependent systems. They also must become familiar with models, data analysis, visualizations, technologies and interdisciplinary thinking, all of which are increasingly important in the workplace. Earth and space science is vital for expanding human knowledge and essential for the nation's future. It is these urgencies that drive the Revolution in Earth and space science education.

Earth and space science education offers extraordinary opportunities for teaching scientific inquiry and critical-thinking skills, which have benefits even outside the field. Earth and space science is the most unifying domain in science and to learn it, students must amalgamate many basic disciplines to see life and nature as comprised of dynamic, interdependent systems. They also must become familiar with models, data analysis, visualizations, technologies and interdisciplinary thinking, all of which are increasingly important in the workplace. Earth and space science is vital for expanding human knowledge and essential for the nation's future. It is these urgencies that drive the Revolution in Earth and space science education.