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Colleagues, Apologies if you have seen this from other sources - sounds like a great opportunity. Heather ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Announcement for an Online Workshop on Earth Science Literacy May 12-24, 2008 Web site:http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org Workshop registration:http://www.betaresourcesinc.com/nc/ esliapplication/content/index.htm Applications are now being accepted to participate in a 2-week online workshop (about an hour a day) that will create a framework of the Big Ideas and supporting concepts that will define what all Americans need to know about the geosciences. We need your help. With declining enrollments in geoscience programs, even in light of growing public concern over critical resource issues, global change and reducing risks from natural hazards, there is urgent need for broader public understanding of geoscience. A broad interagency effort to address this need has been launched, and an NSF-funded workshop is being organized to develop a document, with primary input from the research community, that outlines the essential knowledge necessary to ensure a geoscience literate society. This effort follows similar ones that resulted in the Ocean, Atmospheric Science and Climate Change literacy documents. Through this geoscience workshop, we hope to achieve community consensus among all of the disciplines served by the EAR division of NSF in the creation of an Earth science document to complement the ocean, atmosphere and climate efforts, with the ultimate goal of creating an overall Earth Systems literacy document to inform national and local policy making and education. All members of the Earth science community--especially research scientists and post-secondary educators--are invited to apply to participate in the online geoscience workshop, which will occur during May 12-24, 2008. Though the workshop takes place over a two-week period, participation will require a commitment of only about an hour per day, at any time, from anywhere around the world, through an asynchronous online environment. Direct participation is limited, but the entire community is invited to observe the online process. A draft document will be available for public comment in the early fall. For additional information and an application to participate, go tohttp://www.earthscienceliteracy.org. Please register at:http://www.betaresourcesinc.com/nc/esliapplication/ content/index.htm Sincerely, Earth Science Literacy Initiative Organizing Committee Michael Wysession (Co-Chair), Washington University John Taber (Co-Chair), IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) David Budd, University of Colorado Karen Campbell, NSED (National Center for Earth-science Dynamics) Martha Conklin, University of California, Merced David Kirschtel, CUAHSI (Consortium of Universities for Advancement of Hydrologic Science) Nicole LaDue, NSF (National Science Foundation) Gary Lewis, GSA (Geological Society of America) Robert Raynolds, Denver Museum of Science and Nature Robert W. Ridky, USGS (United States Geological Survey) Robert Ross, PRI (Paleontological Research Institution) Joaquin Ruiz, University of Arizona Barbara Tewksbury, Hamilton College