Canadian Earth scientists are gearing up for a year of international celebrations in 2008 that will focus on the relationship between humans and the planet and demonstrate that geoscientists are key players in creating a balanced, sustainable future for both.

The International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) will comprise independently organized public relations campaigns under a unified initiative spearheaded internationally by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the International Union of Geosciences (IUGS) that represents about 250,000 geoscientists across 117 countries. The Canadian initiative has also attracted astronaut Roberta Bondar as its honorary patron. Chair of the Canadian committee John Boyd says Canada’s involvement in the celebrations is “particularly important because Canada’s prosperity is to a large extent due to resource development – it’s the largest component of our GDP. We have a resourcebased economy.”

Unmistakably. And much of what the IYPE celebrations will seek to accomplish is basic outreach – “telling people,” says Boyd, “about what Earth scientists do and attracting young people to the Earth Sciences.”

Boyd, the semi-retired director of Calgary-based Boyd PetroSearch, says he got involved in the project at the urging of the chief scientist of the Geological Survey of Canada. “I got an email sometime last summer that asked me to run the Canadian committee,” says Boyd. “He then came to visit in September and I agreed to be Chairman. I don’t know why they asked me but I have a bit more time now and I thought I could make a contribution and have some fun so I thought sure. I know they wanted someone from industry involved.”

Outreach activities will consist of a series of projects aimed primarily at students, a book on geology called Four Billion Years and Counting: Canada’s Geologic Heritage, as well as a legacy website that will act as an information portal for all things Earth Science, including careers.

The central contest will embody the Canadian IYPE’s thematic focus on water, hazards, energy, resources, and environment – or “WHERE” – and will run through the 2008-09 school year.

“What we’re hoping to do with that one,” says Boyd, “is get involvement across the country starting with the grade school environment, kids that are ready to start learning something about science. That’s probably the banner project.”

And though the effort is not especially integrated with activities in the other participating countries, national committees do share news, ideas and general information through international headquarters in Norway. “Otherwise it’s pretty loose,” says Boyd. “The official launch will be February 12-13 in Paris, and the international group proposed – and we’re participating in – a contest to send two or three young Canadians to the launch. Entries will be judged by an international delegation and will comprise essays and artwork related to the Earth Sciences. We’ll shortlist entries from Canada for the international committee.”

Meanwhile, Boyd is optimistic the celebrations will receive wide participation but he says fund raising is occurring more slowly than expected. “We’re not enough into it to be guaranteed a success,” he says. “We just don’t know. I’m concerned about the mining industry – we should be able to raise money there but it’s more difficult for us in Calgary because we’re short on those contacts.”

Canadian celebrations are expected to commence on Earth Day (April 22) 2008. “It’s not strictly an environmental thing – it’s an Earth Sciences thing,” says Boyd, “but there is a healthy respect for the environment so it seems appropriate. Besides, February isn’t the best time in Canada to get something like this started.”

For more information, visit www.iypecanada.org.