The International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG)
is a multidisciplinary, scientific platform for widening the discussion and creating awareness about problems of Geoethics and Ethics applied to the Geosciences.
IAPG is legally recognized as a not-for-profit association, has 2895 members in 127 countries on 5 continents, and can count on a network of 35 national sections.
IAPG works to developing theoretical and practical activities covering a wide range of contents comprising: philosophy of geosciences and history of geosciences thinking; research integrity and professionalism in geosciences; working climate issues and related aspects; geoethics in georisks and disaster risk reduction; responsible georesources management; ethical and social aspects in geoeducation and geoscience communication; geoethics applied to different geoscience fields including economic geology, paleontology, forensic geology and medical geology; ethical and societal relevance of geoheritage and geodiversity; sociological aspects in geosciences and geosciences-society-policy interface; geosciences for sustainable and responsible development; geoethical implications in global and local changes of socio-ecological systems; ethics in geoengineering; ethical issues in climate change and ocean science studies; ethical implications in geosciences data life cycle and big data; ethical and social matters in the international geoscience cooperation.
Support the IAPG, make your donation!
Short Course on Geoethics (in memoriam of Jan Boon)
First virtual meeting on 27 July 2020
EGU 2015: IAPG informal meeting
Short Course on Geoethics (in memoriam of Jan Boon)
Follow us on:
What is Geoethics?
Geoethics consists of research and reflection on the values which underpin appropriate behaviours and practices, wherever human activities interact with the Earth system. Geoethics deals with the ethical, social and cultural implications of geoscience education, research and practice, and with the social role and responsibility of geoscientists in conducting their activities..... Read more
Affiliations and Agreements
IAPG promotes geoethics through the international collaboration with Associations and Institutions.
Read more about affiliations, agreements, partnerships:
7 affiliations
25 agreements for cooperation
4 partnerships
Affiliations: IUGS - International Union of Geological Sciences, CIPHS - International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences, AGI - American Geosciences Institute, GSL - Geological Society of London, CFES - Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences, GSA - Geological Society of America, GIRAF - Geoscience Information in Africa Network.
Agreements: EFG - European Federation of Geologists, EGS - EuroGeoSurveys, AGU - American Geophysical Union, IAH - International Association of Hydrogeologists, IAG/AIG - International Association of Geomorphologists, IUGS-IFG - Initiative on Forensic Geology, AAWG - African Association of Women in Geosciences, IAEG - International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment, GSAf - Geological Society of Africa, GC - Geoscientists Canada, BDG - Berufsverband Deutscher Geowissenschaftler e.V., APG - Associação Portuguesa de Geólogos, SGCh - Sociedad Geológica de Chile, NKUA-APRL - The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory, GfGD - Geology for Global Development, JMO - Jeoloji Mühendisleri Odası (Turkisk Chamber of Geological Engineers), MJD - Maden Jeologları Derneği (Turkish Association of Economic Geologists), AEG - Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, YES - International Network of Young and Early-Career Geoscientists, IGEO - International Geoscience Education Organisation, FCEA - Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment, SGP - Sociedad Geológica del Perù, I-GEMA - Instituto de Geociencias Y Medio Ambiente, Arequipa-Perù, ANGE - African Network for Geo-Education, GEVAS Red Argentina.
Partnerships: AGU Ethics & Equity Center, EEF - Earth Future Festival, iCRAG Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Geoscience - EDIG project, IYGU - International Year of Global Understanding, RFG 2018 - Resources for Future Generations.
News
New book on geoethics published by Springer
Peppoloni S. and Di Capua G. (2022). Geoethics: Manifesto for an Ethics of Responsibility Towards the Earth. Springer, Cham, XII+123 pp., ISBN 978-3030980436. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98044-3
This book outlines the current development of geoethical thinking, proposing to the general public reflections and categories useful for understanding the ethical, cultural, and societal dimensions of anthropogenic global changes.
Geoethics identifies and orients responsible behaviors and actions in the management of natural processes, redefining the human interaction with the Earth system based on a critical, scientifically grounded, and pragmatic approach. Solid scientific knowledge and a philosophical reference framework are crucial to face the current ecological disruption. The scientific perspective must be structured to help different human contexts while respecting social and cultural diversity. It is impossible to respond to global problems with disconnected local actions, which cannot be proposed as standard and effective operational models. Geoethics tries to overcome this fragmentation, presenting Earth sciences as the foundation of responsible human action toward the planet. Geoethics is conceived as a rational and multidisciplinary language that can bind and concretely support the international community, engaged in resolving global environmental imbalances and complex challenges, which have no national, cultural, or religious boundaries that require shared governance. Geoethics is proposed as a new reading key to rethinking the Earth as a system of complex relationships, in which the human being is an integral part of natural interactions.
10 June 2022
6:30 pm GMT-5
Launch of MinerLima 2022 by IAPG-Peru
Launch of the 8th edition of the Mineralogical Exhibition of Peru (MinerLima 2022).
This year the coordinator of this important event will be César Chacaltana (IAPG-Peru, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, INGEMMET).
During MinerLima 2022 courses and conferences, seminars and roundtables, excursions and guided tours, workshops for students, technological, minerals, rocks and fossils exhibitions will be included in the programme.
6-9 June 2022
IAPG supports the Oxford Geoheritage Virtual Conference 2022
The Oxford Geoheritage Virtual Conference (OxGVC) is held online, is free to attend, and open to all!
This event is supported by the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics.
Check out the website for more information: https://www.oxgvc.co.uk/
Geoethics at the EGU 2022
23-24 May 2022, Vienna (Austria)
Session EOS4.1: Geoethics in the face of global anthropogenic changes: how do we intersect different knowledge domains?
24 May 2022, 13:20–16:34 (CEST), Room 1.14
Conveners: Silvia Peppoloni, Giuseppe Di Capua, John Ludden, Luiz Oosterbeek, Pimnutcha Promduangsri, Billy Williams
Chairpersons: Eduardo Marone, Pimnutcha Promduangsri
Session sponsored by the IAPG, AGU, CIPSH, IUGS
Session EOS1.8: Climate & ocean literacy: Helping people to care ethically within planetary boundaries
24 May 2022, 17:00–18:30 (CEST), Room 1.14
Convenership: David Crookall, Giuseppe Di Capua, Bärbel Winkler, Mario Mascagni, Francesca Santoro
Chairpers: Giuseppe Di Capua, Bärbel Winkler, David Crookall
Session sponsored by the IAPG
Townhall Meeting TM8: Exploring the nexus of geoethics and climate change education
24 May 2022, 19:00–20:00 (CEST), Room 1.14
Conveners: Giuseppe Di Capua, David Crookall, Bärbel Winkler, Eduardo Marone, Sabine Undorf, Sylvia Knight
Townhall Meeting sponsored by the IAPG
Short Course SC4.1: Geoethics for Earth, Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
23 May 2022, 13:20–14:50 (CEST), Room -2.61/62
Conveners: Eduardo Marone, Silvia Peppoloni
Short course sponsored by the IAPG and IOI-TC-LAC.
Details about events above at:
The "Journal of Geoethics and Social Geosciences" was born: 100% open access
The new journal: an international space for the discussion on the issues of geoethics and social geosciences.
Proposing articles on the ethical, social and cultural implications of geosciences, promoting study and research aimed at accompanying safe and sustainable development policies for human communities, providing transdisciplinary food for thoughts and defining proposals and actions aimed at addressing global anthropogenic changes: these are just some of the objectives of the recently launched "Journal of Geoethics and Social Geosciences" of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV: National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology), Rome, Italy.
"Geosciences address numerous issues including defense against natural risks, research and use of georesources, and climate change. These themes have direct repercussions on the structures and processes of society and on people's lives", explains Silvia Peppoloni, researcher at INGV, Editor-in-Chief of the new journal and Secretary General of the International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG). "For this reason, the topics of interest for geosciences have also to be analyzed from new perspectives that include ethical, social, economic and political considerations".
An increasing number of researchers from various disciplinary backgrounds are dedicating themselves to basic and applied research on the themes of interest for geoethics and social geosciences, with a growing publishing production of books and articles. Yet, there was no scientific journal entirely dedicated to these themes so far.
"To fill this gap", continues the researcher, "INGV has promoted and supported the creation of an open access journal, without publication costs for both authors and readers, also open to contributions from those who work in the sector of human and social sciences in a pluridisciplinary perspective".
The journal, published in English, employs an international team of experts in the fields of geoethics, social geosciences, and the philosophy of geosciences, with backgrounds in scientific, social and humanistic disciplines.
"Among the addressed topics, large space will be given to the responsible management of georesources, to ethical and social aspects in geo-environmental education and in the communication of geosciences, but also to the philosophy of geosciences, the history of geological and environmental thought and the issues of the professional working environment, with particular attention to inclusiveness, diversity, harassment, discrimination and disability".
"The multidisciplinary nature of the contributions constitutes a necessary requisite to face the global anthropogenic changes that threaten the quality of life of present and future generations, from different points of view. The new journal proposes itself as an international reference point for ideas, reflections and proposals capable of analyzing crucial issues of our time from new perspectives", concludes Silvia Peppoloni.
The new journal is supported by the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics.
Video: "Ecological crisis and geosciences: the need for geoethics" (by Giuseppe Di Capua)
Giuseppe Di Capua (IAPG Treasurer and geologist at National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Rome, Italy) contributed to the "State of the Planet" event organized by the IUGS - International Union of Geological Sciences within the initiatives to celebrate 60 years from the foundation of the IUGS (IUGS60) and the Earth Day 2022. Giuseppe was speaker and panelist at that event. He delivered a talk entitled "Ecological crisis and geosciences: the need for geoethics". This event took place on 22 April 2022.
Declaration against war and authoritarianism
for the affirmation of human freedom and dignity
Planet Earth, 26th February 2022
The International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG) expresses its solidarity with all the people who are experiencing their present situation with difficulty and fear due to armed conflicts and who are suffering the repression of fundamental freedoms by authoritarian regimes.
We are close to colleagues from our section in Ukraine who are suffering from the invasion of their nation and are trying to resist the barbarism of war. We are also close to those Russian scientists and intellectuals who are courageously manifesting their rejection of war and demanding the right to peace.
Likewise, we cannot forget our colleagues in Myanmar who are experiencing government repression and our colleagues in Afghanistan, including those of the local IAPG section, for the harsh living conditions in which freedom, health and safety are not guaranteed. We are also close to our colleagues in Yemen, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in all those countries in which governments or groups of powers don’t respect the fundamental Human Rights of United Nations.
The IAPG rejects war and oppression for the resolution of conflicts and supports all those who fight for the affirmation of human dignity and for freedom from the oppression of dictatorships and fundamentalisms.
We strongly affirm that all human beings must be guaranteed dignity, freedom and knowledge. Everyone has the right to be able to live in freedom, health and safety and at the same time has the duty to responsibly guarantee freedom, health and safety to other human beings.
We are convinced that power must be implemented as a responsible exercise of community service, for the construction of more just, equitable, inclusive, supportive, peaceful, sustainable and ecologically oriented societies.
The revival of nationalistic models is anachronistic and represents a real threat to humanity, which instead, precisely in the recognition of its unity, albeit in the diversity of the cultures that constitute it, is beginning to cultivate that feeling of planetary citizenship that can accompany it towards a future of solidarity.
We invite the international scientific community, geosciences organizations and beyond, to sign this declaration.
Support this declaration by sending an email to: iapgeoethics@gmail.com
Download the IAPG Declaration
as pdf file
IAPG is partner of the Earth Future Festival (EFF)
The Earth Futures Festival aims to raise international awareness of the role of Earth Science (geoscience) in our sustainable future. Geoscience is key to understanding the relationships between the planet’s physical and biological systems, human interaction with the environment and climatic impacts. It is essential to reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, plays a vital role in disaster risk reduction and is critical in achieving the Paris Climate Agreement. The festival is a global collaboration to showcase how geoscience is addressing current sustainability challenges through media, with a key focus on education, diversity and inclusion. The festival aims to educate and inspire others, create diverse role models, motivate positive global change and attract a diverse range of people towards both study and careers in the field of geoscience.
All information about the Earth Future Festival are available on the EFF website. Don't miss this event!
IAPG is partner of EFF from April 2022.
- Video
- Flyer
The Earth Futures Festival is actively seeking video submissions on the topic of geoscience within the themes Dynamic Earth, Earth Futures and Human Connection.
Peter Bobrowsky awarded by the IUGS
The IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics is very happy for Peter Bobrowsky (IAPG Vice President) who received an award of the IUGS - International Union of Geological Sciences for his long and valuable service to the Union.
Congratulations Peter!
IAPG celebrates the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February 2022)
It's the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
The International Union of Geological Sciences - IUGS interviews some of the fantastic women in geoscience (Videos can be seen on https://iugs60.org/iugs-women-in-geoscience-event/).
Among them Silvia Peppoloni, our IAPG Secretary General!
Silvia is a geologist, researcher at the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia), Rome (Italy), Councilor of the IUGS - International Union of Geological Sciences, Coordinator of the Section on Geoethics and Geological Culture of the Italian Geological Society/IAPG-Italy.
The IAPG joins the celebration of the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Croatian Geological Society supports the Cape Town Statement on Geoethics and provided its translation in Croatian
Hrvatsko Geološko Društvo (HGD) (Croatian Geological Society) is the 28th geoscience organization that supports the Cape Town Statement on Geoethics. This important document contains the Geoethical Promise.
Thanks to Dr. Zoran Peh (HGD) the Cape Town Statement on Geoethics and the Geoethical Promise are now available also in Croatian. The Cape Town Statement on Geoethics is translated in 36 languages.
Peter Bobrowsky is the new IAPG Vice President
IAPG has a new Vice-President, Peter T. Bobrowsky. He replaces Susan Kieffer who decided to step down from this role. Previously he was IAPG Continental Coordinator for North America.
Peter Bobrowsky is an engineering geologist specializing in natural hazards, mapping, sedimentology/stratigraphy, drift prospecting, aggregate studies and interests in geoethics, geoheritage, medical geology and forensic geology. Currently an Emeritus Scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada and Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University. Author/coauthor of some 500 publications. Former Vice President and Secretary General of IUGS, President of the International Consortium on Landslides, President of the Geological Association of Canada and President of the Canadian Quaternary Association. Currently an active supporter and contributor to “outreach and education” he annually delivers dozens of lectures to various public groups around the world. Here the Curriculum Vitae of Peter.
We wish to thank Susan Kieffer for the valuable contribution to develop geoethics, to promote the IAPG and to manage the Association in its ten first years of living. She is our first Legendary Member.
Vince Cronin is the new IAPG Continental Coordinator for North America
IAPG has a new Continental Coordinator for North America, Vince Cronin. He replaces Peter Bobrowsky who was appointed as new IAPG Vice-President. Previously Vince was IAPG-USA co-Coordinator.
Vince Cronin has been interested in geoethics since the 1980s when he worked on engineering geology projects under the supervision of former California State Geologist Dr. Jim Slosson. Cronin earned degrees in geology from Pomona College (AB, '79), Dartmouth College (AM, '82), and Texas A&M University (Ph.D., '88). For most of his career, he has been a tenured professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Baylor University. Professor Cronin and his students' diverse research included Himalayan geology, plate kinematics, geodesy, paleoseismology, neotectonics, and the identification of potentially dangerous seismogenic faults. He is the current editor of the AGI/NAGT Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology — widely used in the US.
David Mogk is the new IAPG-USA co-Coordinator
IAPG-USA has a new co-Coordinator, David Mogk. He replaces Vince Cronin who was appointed as new IAPG Continental Coordinator for North America. Davis is also member of the IAPG Board of Experts for Geo-education and Teaching Geoethics.
David Mogk is Professor of Geology and former Head of the Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University. He is a metamorphic petrologist by training, with research interests in genesis and evolution of Archean continental crust, mid-crustal petrogenetic processes, and spectroscopy of mineral surfaces. He has worked in mineral exploration for precious, base and industrial minerals, and has also worked on environmental remediation of mine sites. For the past 25 years he has worked to promote excellence in geoscience education. He was program officer in NSF’s Division of Undergraduate Education; Chair of GSA’s Education Division; worked to establish the Digital Library for Earth Science Education and the National Science Digital Library; has been co-PI of the On the Cutting Edge Program for geoscience faculty professional development; has served on the EarthScope and EarthChem advisory boards; was a panelist on NRC Board On Science Education panels on Integrating Research and Education in Biocomplexity Projects, Promising Practices in STEM Education, and Discipline-Based Education Research; and is co-editor of GSA Special Paper volume on Earth and Mind: How Geologists Think and Learn About the Earth and Field Geology Instruction: Historical Perspectives and Modern Approaches. He is past chair of the U.S. National Committee for Geosciences to the IUGS where he worked to promote development of geoheritage sites. For the past decade he has led the initiative in the United States to promote Teaching Geoethics Across the Geoscience Curriculum including website development of Teaching Geoethics Across the Geoscience Curriculum: https://serc.carleton.edu/geoethics/index.html.
IAPG Annual Report 2021 for the IUGS
The IAPG Annual Report 2021 for the IUGS - International Union of Geological Sciences is now available for the download.
The report (47 pages) contains:
- Overall objectives of the IAPG
- Relate goals to overall IUGS scientific objectives
- How has the IAPG been actively involved with IUGS related activities
- Structure and organization of the IAPG
- Interaction with other International organizations and projects
- IAPG chief products
- IAPG chief accomplishments 2021 and plans for 2022
The IAPG annual report was prepared by Giuseppe Di Capua (IAPG Treasurer)
New book published in the SpringerBriefs in Geoethics
This is the first book on geoethics (8 chapters, 8 authors) printed in 2022 and the second book published in the series SpringerBriefs in Geoethics:
Villacorta Chambi S.P., ed. (2022). Geoethics in Peru - A Pathway for Latin America. SpringerBriefs in Geoethics, Springer International Publishing, pp. XXIII+107. ISBN 978-3030867300. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86731-7.
Illustrates the application of geoethics in Peru and creating awareness about geoscience applications.
Broadens the understanding of the application of geosciences to handle problems of its non-application in Peru.
Summarizes the experience in leading an association to promote geoethical values in the Latin American region.
- Read more about this book in Springer Link
- Read the IAPG Forewords by Silvia Peppoloni and Giuseppe Di Capua, and by Roberto Greco
6-9 June 2022
IAPG supports the Geoheritage Conference 2022
Virtual
The Oxford Geoheritage Virtual Conference (OxGVC) is held online, free to attend, and open to all!
This conference is supported by the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, the Charnwood Forest Geopark, ProGEO and the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics.
IAPG endorses the Jena Declaration
The Executive Council of the IAPG decided to endorse the Jena Declaration (TJD).
The Jena Declaration (TJD) establishes guidelines and practices to accelerate progress to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It calls for enabling fundamental change in the everyday actions of hundreds of millions of people all over the world. Specifically, the declaration aims to stimulate more culturally-sensitive policies and programs that enhance, promote and facilitate grass roots movements that lie at the heart of such mobilization. By respecting cultural and regional diversities, the aim is to exceed the expectations of the UN SDGs before 2030, and to set the table for even greater success with each successive decade.
The Jena Declaration was organized by the UNESCO-Chair on Global Understanding for Sustainability (University of Jena, Germany) in March 2021 and is available in English, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese.
Website: https://www.thejenadeclaration.org/
The Geoethics Medal 2021 goes to Sandra Villacorta and Iain Hay
"Sandra Villacorta is one of the outstanding figures in geoethical practice in the Spanish-speaking region. She has made a measurable impact over the past 10 years as a passionate advocate for promoting the spread of Geosciences in the society as well as the improvement of Geosciences education quality and leading the advance in geoethics in Latin America. She was the founder of the International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG) Peruvian section, highlighted in the region. Since 2014 she has dedicated herself to promoting scientific integrity, ethics, and equality in geosciences, as well as giving conferences and writing articles on geoscience subjects and geoethics to spread it in the Spanish language. Her volunteer activities include: working with the International Union of Geological Sciences (Commission on Geoscience Education) and the International Geoscience Education Organization to help the improvement of Geosciences education worldwide and working in raising the awareness of applying Geosciences as part of the solutions for the development in Latin American countries, as a member of international committees. She has also assisted the Peruvian Groups of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment and IAPG with encouraging the use of worldwide techniques of engineering geology and ethical values to solve environmental problems faced in Peru and frequently been asked to give public talks as well as to appear as the subject of a variety of media material, encouraging awareness in disaster prevention in Peru. Sandra is an example of a high level of commitment to the practice of geoethics, academic excellence and develops its activities as a geoethical duty to society."
"Iain Hay has pioneered the field of geographies of domination and oppression in a lifetime’s work acknowledged by a rare Doctor of Letters (University of Canterbury 2009). His research unmasks unintended and insidious ways in which injustice is created, reproduced and transformed. He works tirelessly to overcome injustice through practical and conceptual means and has led international professional development initiatives on ethics in geography; shaped geographical organisations’ codes of ethics; and developed influential educational resources on ethics. Iain’s lasting service to geoscience professions includes as First Vice‐President of the International Geographical Union, President of the Institute of Australian Geographers, Chair of the Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee for Geography, and Councillor of the global Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). He co‐founded the ground‐breaking journal Ethics, Place and Environment and promoted its ambitions for twelve years as Asia‐Pacific Commissioning Editor. He has been Editor-in‐Chief of Geographical Research and Editor of South Australian Geographical Journal. Iain co‐authored the innovative Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and continues to write extensively on ethics in geography. Contributors to his landmark multi‐edition book Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography are entreated to emphasise ethical concerns, social justice, issues of racism, ableism, sexism, and Indigenous issues in their chapters. Iain’s dedication to justice and the development of geoethical understandings is acknowledged by awards from the: American Association of Geographers, New Zealand Geographical Society, and Royal Geographical Society. He is the only geographer to receive the Australian Prime Minister’s Award for University Teacher of the Year."
The International Geodiversity Day was established by UNESCO
The International Geodiversity Day was established on 23 November 2021 by the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference!!
From now on, the 6th of October will be an annual worldwide celebration, raising awareness across society about the importance of non-living nature for the well-being and prosperity of all living beings on the planet!
The IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics was among the organizations supporting the proposal submitted to UNESCO.
Website: www.geodiversityday.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GeodiversityDay
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GeodiversityDay
New book on geoethics published by the Geological Society of London in the Lyell Collection
A new book on geoethics (20 chapters, 34 authors) has been printed in 2021:
Di Capua G., Bobrowsky P.T., Kieffer S.W. and Palinkas C. (2021). Geoethics: Status and Future Perspectives. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 508, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP508.
This is the second volume focused on geoethics published by the Geological Society of London. This is a significant step forward in which authors address the maturation of geoethics. The field of geoethics is now ready to be introduced outside the geoscience community as a logical platform for global ethics that addresses anthropogenic changes. Geoethics has a distinction in the geoscientific community for discussing ethical, social and cultural implications of geoscience knowledge, research, practice, education and communication. This provides a common ground for confronting ideas, experiences and proposals on how geosciences can supply additional service to society in order to improve the way humans interact responsibly with the Earth system. This book provides new messages to geoscientists, social scientists, intellectuals, law- and decision-makers, and laypeople. Motivations and actions for facing global anthropogenic changes and their intense impacts on the planet need to be governed by an ethical framework capable of merging a solid conceptual structure with pragmatic approaches based on geoscientific knowledge. This philosophy defines geoethics.
This book is dedicated to Jan Boon.
Download the poster with the list of chapters
This book on the GSL (Lyell Collection) website:
New book published by Palgrave Macmillan
A new book (16 chapters, 20 authors) has been printed in 2021:
Bohle M. and Marone E., Eds. (2021). Geo-societal Narratives - Contextualising geosciences. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, XXV+221 pp., ISBN 978-3030790271. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79028-8.
This book provides an accessible overview of the societal relevance of contemporary geosciences. Engaging various disciplines from humanities and social sciences, the book offers philosophical, cultural, economic, and geoscientific insights into how to contextualise geosciences in the node of Culture and Nature.
The authors introduce two perspectives of societal geosciences, both informed by the lens of geoethics. Throughout the text, core themes are explored; human agency, the integrity of place, geo-centricity, economy and climate justice, subjective sense-making and spirituality, nationalism, participatory empowerment and leadership in times of anthropogenic global change. The book concludes with a discussion on culture, education, or philosophy of science as aggregating concepts of seemingly disjunct narratives.
The diverse intellectual homes of the authors offer a rich resource in terms of how they perceive human agency within the Earth system. Two geoscientific perspectives and fourteen narratives from various cultural, social and political viewpoints contextualise geosciences in the World(s) of the Anthropocene.
This book is dedicated to Mario Bunge.
This book on the Springer Link website:
Welcome to IAPG-Germany!
The section is officially established on 13 December 2021 and will work under the responsibility of Simon Schneider (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich) and Dominic Hildebrandt (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and ETH Zurich). The section is based at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. IAPG-Germany is the 35th national section of our Association.
Simon Schneider earned his degree in geophysics from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, where he also worked in science communication and education in the departments of earth sciences. He participated in international research projects as a scientist and media relations specialist, was a volunteer park ranger in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, conducted research at Lake Bosumtwi in Ghana, and aboard the research vessel MS Sonne in the southern waters of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. For more than a decade, Simon Schneider was Public Outreach Manager of the GEOTECHNOLOGIES research and development program in Potsdam. He was co-editor of the online magazine The Euroscientist, studied public relations part-time at the University of Management and Communication UMC Potsdam, and earned a PhD in communication sciences at the Freie Universität Berlin. Simon Schneider was a member of the AGU Outreach Committee as well as a representative for public relations, political communication and education on the AGU Fall Meeting Program Committee – currently, he is a member of AGU’s Honors & Recognition Committee. He was a teacher of geography and ethics, conducted teacher training in earth and environmental sciences and courses on fundraising and marketing at a vocational school in Berlin. He also supported the press office of the University of Potsdam as a writer and consultant an received the Potsdam Award for Science Communication WISPop in 2021. After managing the Earth and Environmental Systems research focus at the University of Potsdam, Simon is now working full-time at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, where he is a member of the concept team for a new geoscience exhibition. His research interest is in intercultural science communication and the transfer of indigenous and traditional knowledge into decision making.
Dominic Hildebrandt received his Bachelor's degree in Geosciences with a focus on Geology and Paleontology from the Ludwig Maximilian University Munich and the Technical University Munich in 2020. He is now studying in the Master's degree program Earth Sciences with a major in Geology at ETH Zurich. Dominic is Vice President of the student representative board in the Earth Sciences at ETH Zurich. Furthermore, he is engaged in the umbrella organization of all German-speaking student representatives in the Geosciences called GeStEIN. Within this student network he co-leads a working group on Diversity, Equality and Ethics in Geosciences. He is advisory board member and student representative in the German Professional Association of Geoscientists (BDG), where he actively works on the topics Geoscience university education and Geoethics. Dominic is interested in the educational development of study programs and is actively sharing his expertise in external quality assessment procedures of study programs.
Welcome to IAPG-Afghanistan!
The section is officially established on 2 August 2021 and will work under the responsibility of Mohammad Salem Hussaini (Kabul Polytechnic University - photo on top right) and Asadullah Farahmand (Ministry of Energy and Water, Kabul - photo on the bottom right). IAPG-Afghanistan is the 34th national section of our Association.
Mohammad Salem Hussaini got the B.Sc. in Geology, Department of Geoscience, Faculty of Science, Sistan and Baluchestan University, Iran; M.Sc., Department of Geoscience, Isfahan University, Iran; and from 2017 is Assistant Professor at the Department of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology of the Kabul Polytechnic University. His current research field is on groundwater management for Kabul city and other districts in Afghanistan. He is working on artificial groundwater recharge (site section for managed aquifer recharge in Kabul city which includes spatial multi-criteria decision making techniques integrated by remote sensing and GIS), and on climate change impact on groundwater resources, depletion of groundwater potential zones, and ground subsidence in Kabul city area.
Asadullah Farahmand has a B.Sc. Bachelor's degree focused in Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology from Kabul Polytechnic University. From 2019 he works at the Department of Groundwater Resources (MEW) of the Ministry of Energy and Water in Kabul City. He is working in groundwater field for Kabul city and other districts in Afghanistan. In particular, on groundwater potential zones in Arghandab sub basin using remote sensing and AHP, ANP technique and on artificial groundwater recharge (site selection for managed aquifer recharge in Kabul city which includes spatial multi-criteria decision-making techniques integrated by remote sensing and GIS). In addition he is working on the assessment of the origin and source of interaction between surface waters and groundwaters of Kabul basin using hydrochemistry and environmental isotopes (deuterium, oxygen-18 and tritium).
Minigeology interviewed Peter Bobrowsky on geoethics
Peter Bobrowsky (IAPG Continental Coordinator for North America) was interviewed by Daniel Minisini (Minigeology).
Here the link to the video recording on YouTube of the full interview to Peter Bobrowsky: https://youtu.be/jf4RM8YGa8Y
This is the trailer of the interview: https://youtu.be/YVwRarLI6AY
Peter discussed on activities of the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics (https://www.geoethics.org) and about important ethical issues related to Earth sciences.
Minigeology is a square where you meet protagonists and other characters related to Geology. Daniel Minisini interviews them to uncover their mindset, discover how they approach a problem, their work, life, and then he shares with the community. His interviews help geologists to understand the relationships of Geology with other scientific disciplines and with different aspects of life. He dedicates these stories to listeners that have the curiosity and the patience to listen. Minigeology is informal, unedited and spontaneous, but full of content and dedicated to top notch geologists and institutions dedicated to geology.
Here some more info: https://earthscience.rice.edu/minigeology/
YouTube channel of the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: https://www.youtube.com/user/iapgeoethics/videos
Book on geoethics and groundwater management
We are glad to inform that a new book has been published at the beginning of April 2021:
Abrunhosa Manuel, Chambel Antonio, Peppoloni Silvia, Chaminé Helder I., eds. (2021). Advances in Geoethics and Groundwater Management: theory and practice for a sustainable development - Proceedings of the 1st Congress on Geoethics and Groundwater Management (GEOETH&GWM'20), Porto - Portugal 2020. XLV + 523 p., 24 b/w illustrations, 180 illustrations in colour, Springer, ISBN 978-3-030-59319-3. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-59320-9.
This book gathers the peer-reviewed proceedings of the 1st congress on Geoethics & Groundwater Management (GEOETH&GWM'20), held in Porto, Portugal, in an online format on 18-22 May 2020. Hosted in the School of Engineering (ISEP), Polytechnic of Porto in Porto city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the international conference focused on what has now been dubbed "hydrogeoethics", a novel transdisciplinary, scientific field integrating all dimensions of geoethics in groundwater science and practice.
Download the book Front Matter, containing:
- Foreword by Giuseppe Di Capua (IAPG)
- Foreword by Nabil Khélifi (Springer Senior Publishing Editor)
- Preface by Manuel Abrunhosa (IAPG and IAH), Antonio Chambel (IAH), Silvia Peppoloni, Helder I. Chaminé (IAH)
- Acknowledgements
- Preamble by John Cherry (G360 Institute for Groundwater Research, University of Guelph, University of Waterloo)
- Contents (108 papers)
- About the Editors
This book in the Springerlink website
Geoethics and Arts
Ying Kit Chan
Geoethics
Works by Ying Kit Chan
2021, Old Stone Press, pp. 158, ISBN 978-1938462542
Invitation to submit papers: Special Issue on Geoethics of the journal Sustainability
.png)
Title of the special issue:
New Advances on Geoethics and Sustainable Development
Guest editors:
Silvia Peppoloni, Giuseppe Di Capua
Description:
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/geoethics
Submission:
https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?form[journal_id]=15&form[special_issue_id]=51668
IAPG endorses the eLearning Course "Practical Geocommunication"
90% discount for the Black Friday 2021 (click here)
Dear IAPG member,
IAPG has recently endorsed the eLearning course ‘Practical Geocommunication’ offered by Geologize Ltd. Geologize teaches geoscientists to bring the public to a great understanding and appreciation of our planet through effective and powerful communication.
To find out more about the course, please check out the following video:
https://youtu.be/jQDZxDZnUC8
As a member of an endorsing association, you now have a 70% discount on the usual course price.
Your unique access code is: iapg-pggz
Here’s how to start your learning experience!
1) Head over to https://training.geologize.org/courses/geocomms
2) Click on 'BUY'
3) Register (Free)
4) Click on the link ‘Have a coupon?’
5) Enter the code above. This applies the 70% discount.
6) Pay the remaining value.
7) Start learning!
The number of times this coupon can be used is limited to the current membership of the IAPG, so I kindly request that it not be shared with those outside the IAPG.
Learners follow the course at their own pace and you will have lessons, quizzes, assignments and the opportunity to interact directly with myself, Dr Haydon Mort. A certificate is provided at the end of the course, with the seals of the IAPG, The Geological Society of London and the European Federation of Geologists, who also endorse the course.
All the best,
Haydon Mort
---------------------------------------------------
Dr. Haydon Mort
CEO-Director Geologize Ltd
Geologist, Science Communicator
New article: Science and Citizen Collaboration as Good Example of Geoethics for Recovering a Natural Site in the Urban Area of Rome (Italy).
It can be cited as follows:
Procesi M., Di Capua G., Peppoloni S., Corirossi M. and Valentinelli A. (2022)
Science and Citizen Collaboration as Good Example of Geoethics for Recovering a Natural Site in the Urban Area of Rome (Italy)
Sustainability, 14(8), 4429. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084429
New article: Phronesis at the Human-Earth Nexus: Managed Retreat.
It can be cited as follows:
Bohle M. and Marone E. (2022)
Phronesis at the Human-Earth Nexus: Managed Retreat
Frontiers in Political Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2022.819930
Article: Push for ethical practices in geoscience fieldwork.
It can be cited as follows:
Di Capua G., Bohle M., Hildebrandt D., Marone E., Peppoloni S. & Schneider S. (2022)
Push for ethical practices in geoscience fieldwork. Nature, 601, 26. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-03837-0
Article: Educational Resources for Geoethical Aspects of Water Management.
It can be cited as follows:
Handl S., Calheiros C.S.C., Fiebig M. and Langergraber G. (2022)
Educational Resources for Geoethical Aspects of Water Management
Geosciences, 12(2), 80. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12020080
Article: Geoetica: un’etica per la relazione tra gli esseri umani e la terra (Geoethics: an ethics for the relationship between humans and the Earth).
It can be cited as follows:
Peppoloni S. and Di Capua G. (2021)
Geoetica: un’etica per la relazione tra gli esseri umani e la terra (Geoethics: an ethics for the relationship between humans and the Earth).
The Future of Science and Ethics, 6, 42-53. https://doi.org/10.53267/20210104
Article: The need for transparent communication in mining: a case study in lithium exploitation.
It can be cited as follows:
Ribeiro T., Lima L. and Vasconcelos C. (2021)
The need for transparent communication in mining: a case study in lithium exploitation
International Journal of Science Education, Part B. https://doi.org/10.1080/21548455.2021.1999530
Article: Hydrogeoethics in sustainable water resources management facing water scarcity in Mediterranean and surrounding regions
It can be downloaded for free and cited as follows:
Chaminé H.I., Abrunhosa M., Barbieri M., Naves A., Errami E., Aragão A. and Di Capua G. (2021).
Hydrogeoethics in sustainable water resources management facing water scarcity in Mediterranean and surrounding regions.
Mediterranean Geoscience Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42990-021-00069-2
Article: Geoethics to Start Up a Pedagogical and Political Path towards Future Sustainable Societies
It can be downloaded for free and cited as follows:
Peppoloni S. and Di Capua G. (2021)
Geoethics to Start Up a Pedagogical and Political Path towards Future Sustainable Societies.
Sustainability, 13(18), 10024. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810024
Article: The Need for Geoethical Awareness: The Importance of
Geoenvironmental Education in Geoheritage Understanding in
the Case of Meteora Geomorphes, Greece
It can be downloaded for free and cited as follows:
Georgousis E., Savelides S., Mosios S., Holokolos M.-V., Drinia H. (2021)
The Need for Geoethical Awareness: The Importance of Geoenvironmental Education in
Geoheritage Understanding in the Case of Meteora Geomorphes, Greece.
Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6626, https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126626
Article: Exemplary Ethical Communities. A New Concept for a Livable Anthropocene
It can be downloaded for free and cited as follows:
Conversi D. (2021)
Exemplary Ethical Communities. A New Concept for a Livable Anthropocene.
Sustainability, 13(10), 5582, https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105582
Book: Teaching Geoethics
This e-Book was a deliverable of the Erasmus+ project GOAL "Geoethics Outcomes and Awareness Learning". It can be downloaded for free and cited as follows:
Vasconcelos Clara, Schneider-Voß Susanne, and Peppoloni Silvia (Eds.)
Teaching Geoethics
Resources for higher education
2020, U.Porto Edições, 207 pp., https://doi.org/10.24840/978-989-746-254-2
Cape Town Statement on Geoethics
It sums up all the values, concepts, contents developed by IAPG, giving a perspective for the future development of geoethics. Supported by 22 geoscience organizations and available in 35 languages
Geoethical Promise
A Hippocratic-like oath for geoscientists, originally proposed at the 34th IGC-International Geological Congress in Brisbane (Australia). Translated in 35 languages
Journal of Geoethics and Social Geosciences
Articles on the ethical, social and cultural implications of geosciences, and on study and research aimed at accompanying safe and sustainable development policies for human communities, transdisciplinary food for thoughts and proposals aimed at addressing global anthropogenic changes
SpringerBriefs
in Geoethics
It envisions a series of short publications that aim to discuss ethical, social, and cultural implications of geosciences knowledge, education, research, practice and communication.
Human War and War against Nature: The latest IPCC Report and the Prospect af a Lost Conflict
(by Silvia Peppoloni, Italy)
"... every war is also a war between human beings and nature. ... There is no law, there are no rules. ... Its effects, extended over space and time, are insidious, altering, and irreversible."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
A Geo-philosophical Topic – Agency at the Human-Earth Nexus
(by Martin Bohle, Germany)
"... Methodologically it can be undertaken by enlarging the foundations of 'Cape Town Geoethics' with specific political and moral philosophies, which apply a realist-materialist scientific epistemology (Bunge, 2006) to understand the societal fabric, for example, describing differentials of power, voice, sense-making skills, group pressure or access to resources."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
Geomorphological heritage and beyond
(by Enrico Cameron, Italy)
"... The pros and cons of the proposed method and of the exclusion approach are of course open to debate, but perhaps it can be agreed that geoconservation should be further extended to everyday territories as much as ecological conservation cannot be identified anymore with protected areas only."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
COP26 and Geoethics
(by David Ovadia, United Kingdom)
"... Geoscientists should be at the forefront of providing evidence based advice, yet seem strangely muted. Our ethics are about telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, ..."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
What's news about socio-hydrogeology
(by Enrico Cameron, Italy)
"... Geoethics underpins socio-hydrogeology first of all because the latter intrinsically acknowledges, and takes care of, the sociological aspects of the interactions between people and groundwater, promotes a more equitable use of groundwater resources and seeks information sharing as wells as the active participation of stakeholders and water users in studying and solving groundwater related problems. Geoethics, at the same time, offers a wider conceptual framework that, also, helps deciding what to do when dealing with competing and conflicting interests, views and values, that socio-hydrogeology may help to highlight and that are the norm when tackling environmental problems."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
The "dark" side of the Moon (and space), between jurisprudence, politics and ecology
(by Silvia Peppoloni, Italy)
"... the Moon is part of the life and imagination of every human being: it is present in all cultures, in myths, in literature, in popular legends. Its formation has made possible the development of life on Earth and continues to influence some fundamental dynamics, and this should be enough to consider it much more than a wasteland, barren and inanimate, to be fought over by nations."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
Meteorological or anthropogenic drought? A recent study illustrates the environmental, social and economic risks
(by Silvia Peppoloni, Italy)
"Improving the response to future droughts through increasingly effective strategies for managing the demand and water supply of the future, when the climate will be warmer and characterized by numerous extreme climatic events, is not just an issue of economic sustainability. It is also and above all a great safety issue, which affects everyone, since the drought may be accompanied by growing social and geopolitical tensions. Only responsible and farsighted ruling classes and ever more accurate science and technology will be able to try to defuse the effects of the massive anthropogenic global changes taking place."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
Sustainable Mining – what exactly does it mean?
(by David Ovadia, United Kingdom)
"... So what else can we use as an adjective that means what we want it to mean? How about ‘ethical mining’? This seems to embrace most of the positives without giving the false impression of renewability or permanence. ..."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
In evidence
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
(Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, M. Tignor, E.S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke, V. Möller, A. Okem, B. Rama (eds.)])
February, 2022
The Global Risks Report 2022
(Insight Report, 17th Edition. In partnership with Marsh & McLennan, SK Group and Zurich Insurance Group)
World Economic Forum, 2022
Biodiversity and Climate Change
Scientific Outcome of the IPBES-IPCC co-sponsored workshop
June 2021
In the Section 4.2 "Human and Social Dimensions" (page 49) you can read the following sentences, that include also the definition of geoethics by IAPG:
"Ethical behaviour with respect to nature (“geoethics”) is at the core of several discussions regarding adaptation. The values which underpin appropriate behaviours and practices wherever human activities interact with the Earth system play an important role in the awareness of society regarding problems with biodiversity and NCP. Ethical, social, and cultural implications of both scientific knowledge and humankind’s role as an active geological force on the planet and the ethical responsibility that this implies need to be addressed in every plan of action (Bobrowsky et al., 2017). This includes equity issues linked to biodiversity related interventions. These are often not distributionally neutral and have equity implications both within and between generations."
The paper on geoethics cited in the document is:
Bobrowsky, P., Cronin, V. S., Di Capua, G., Kieffer, S. W., & Peppoloni, S. (2017). The emerging field of geoethics. Sci. Integr. Ethics Geosci, 73, 175.
This paper can be read here:
Lisbon Declaration on Humanities, Open Research and Innovation
Result of the European Humanities Conference 2021
Lisbon, 7 May 2021
This document is supported by the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics
Guidelines for geoconservation in protected and conserved areas
(by Crofts R., Gordon J.E., Brilha J., Gray M., Gunn J., Larwood J., Santucci V.L., Tormey D., and Worboys G.L.)
Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 31. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. ISBN 978-2-8317-2079-1, doi:10.2305/IUCN.CH.2020.PAG.31.en.
IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 2020
Global Research Report
Research Integrity: Understanding our shared responsibility for a sustainable scholarly ecosystem
(by Szomszor M. and Quaderi N., Institute for Scientific Information)
October 2020
Promoting Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the Oil, Gas and Mining Extractive Industries
A Women’s Human Rights Report
(by R. Park, B. Metzger, and L. Foreman)
The Advocates for Human Rights, January 2019
White Paper on Citizen Science for Europe
(by Sanz F.S., Holocher-Ertl T., Kieslinger B., Sanz García F. and Silva C.G.)
European Commission, 2014
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
On 25 September 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.
Latest:
-
IAPG signed an agreement for cooperation with GSAf
-
Happy Season's Holidays and a Serene New Year 2022
-
Questionnaire "Geoethics in the Geosciences"
-
New IAPG officers: Mike Buchanan (IAPG Board of Experts), Parviz Armani (IAPG-Iran), Pedro Isique (IAPG-Peru)
-
International Geoethics Day 2021