1250 students celebrate Earth Science Week at USGS

In celebration of Earth Science Week, approximately 1250 students from more than 44 local schools and home schools are signed up to visit the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Menlo Park on Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., to meet with scientists for hands-on activities, workshops, and demonstrations.

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Students will discover Topo Salad Trays, and the Lean, Mean Landslide Machine. They can examine tiny organisms through microscopes, and learn about creeping earthquake faults (they’re not just creepy on Halloween!). Marine scientists will be displaying the strange critters and mineral chimneys discovered during mid-ocean ridge explorations, and students will have the opportunity to compare the volcanic eruptions of Mount St. Helens, Yellowstone, and Kilauea, learn about tsunamis (When the World Waves Back), make their own earthquakes, and much more. View the full list of exhibits.

In addition to USGS exhibits, our partners the California Geological Survey, the San Francisco Zoo, the American Red Cross, PG&E, and the California Academy of Sciences will be in Menlo Park with their own activities and displays. While the focus is on the students, teachers will not go home empty-handed. A special table with classroom resources is part of the day’s event.

Earth Science Week is celebrated this year Oct. 14-20. “The Pulse of Earth Science” was selected as the theme of Earth Science Week 2007 to promote public and profession awareness of the status of earth science in education and society.

The USGS in Menlo Park is only one venue in the nationwide celebration for Earth Science Week. Earth scientists at universities, government agencies and businesses nationwide are opening their doors to visitors, visiting classrooms, and hosting field trips. Earth Science Week was established in 1998 by the American Geological Institute (AGI) to give students and citizens new opportunities to discover Earth sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth. It highlights the important contributions that Earth and environmental sciences make to society and invites the public to become engaged in current scientific exploration. AGI and the USGS are sponsoring national essay, visual arts, and photography contests for school children. Read more information about USGS Earth Science Week activities and information about the Earth Science Week national celebration.