265 Geoscience Education: Research and Practice

Wednesday, 22 October 2014
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
204

GEOETHICS: BUILDING AN ETHICAL FRAMEWORK OF REFERENCE FOR RESEARCH AND PRACTICE IN GEOSCIENCES

Paper number: 265-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:30 AM – 8:45 AM

Authors

Abstract

Geoethics is the investigation and reflection on human behavior and practice towards the Geosphere. It is a discipline with an important objective: studying and promoting the protection and valorization of the Geosphere, through increasing the awareness of geoscientists regarding their ethical and social role in the science. Geoethics deals with many significant environmental issues such as pollution and waste problems, water contamination and depletion, global warming and others. Geoethics promotes environmental sustainability, prudent use of natural resources, protection from natural hazards, by encouraging the development of eco-friendly technologies and geoeducation activities, taking into consideration that the welfare of the Earth coincides with the welfare of human beings. It aims to raise the awareness about the value of our natural heritage, highlighting how much of our geoheritage is delicate and and how this heritage needs the attention of all citizens.

The urgency to reconsider the relationship between humans and Earth and to manage resources and natural processes within a paradigm of common sense, wisdom and foresight helps describe the foundation of Geoethics and the trigger to stimulate the recent growth in attention.

Starting from these considerations, during the 34th International Geological Congress in 2012 Brisbane (Australia), the IAPG – International Association for Promoting Geoethics (http://www.iapg.geoethics.org) was founded.

The IAPG was born to build a new awareness in the scientific community. It aims at joining forces with geoscientists from all over the world, through creation of an international, multidisciplinary and scientific platform for discussing ethical problems and dilemmas in Earth Sciences, as well as for promoting Geoethics themes through scientific publications and conferences. The main goal of IAPG is to give a new cultural framework of reference, in which to develop shared values within the scientific community.

Herein we provide an overview on the IAPG goals, activities and ongoing initiatives.