International Geoscience Education Organisation

International Geoscience Education Organisation
Name	International Geoscience Education Organisation
Abbreviation	IGEO
Formation	2006
Type	Non-profit organization
Purpose	Improve geoscience teaching and learning worldwide
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
Region served	Global

Contents

International Geoscience Education Organisation

The International Geoscience Education Organisation is a global non-profit association focused on improving geoscience teaching and learning through curriculum development, teacher professional development, and international assessment. Founded with input from leading institutions and individuals from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and national academies such as the Royal Society, the organisation connects educators, researchers, and policymakers across continents including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. It works alongside major scientific entities like the International Union of Geological Sciences, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Geographical Union, and the National Science Foundation to promote geoscientific literacy in formal and informal settings.

History

The organisation emerged in the early 21st century from discussions among participants at events such as the International Geological Congress and meetings convened by the International Union of Geological Sciences and UNESCO aimed at addressing gaps identified by commissions including the International Commission on Education in the 21st Century and national groups like the British Geological Survey. Founders included educators affiliated with universities such as University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Tokyo, and University of Cape Town, and contributors from agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey, Geological Survey of Canada, and the Australian Academy of Science. Early initiatives drew on precedents set by programs such as the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory outreach and the Royal Institution public lectures to design international teacher networks and curriculum frameworks.

The organisation's mission emphasizes raising awareness of Earth systems and promoting pedagogical innovation through collaboration with institutions like the European Geosciences Union, American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America, and national ministries such as the Ministry of Education (Japan), Department of Education (United States). Objectives include developing benchmark curricula comparable to frameworks from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Baccalaureate, producing assessment tools reminiscent of programs like Programme for International Student Assessment studies and partnering with museums and centers such as the Smithsonian Institution, Natural History Museum, London, and the Field Museum of Natural History for outreach.

Governance uses an elected council drawing members from professional societies including the Geological Society of London, Japan Geoscience Union, Geological Society of India, and academies like the National Academy of Sciences (United States). The membership comprises teachers, researchers, and officials from organizations such as the European Commission, China Geological Survey, Brazilian Geological Survey (CPRM), and universities including Harvard University, Peking University, University of Melbourne, and Universidade de São Paulo. Advisory boards have included representatives linked to awards and bodies such as the Nobel Prize committees, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research.

Programs include teacher training workshops inspired by models from the Wellcome Trust, exchange schemes akin to those of the Fulbright Program, and curriculum projects that parallel work by the National Research Council (United States). Activities cover classroom resource development with partners like the British Council, citizen science initiatives echoing the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment program, and summer schools modeled on events at facilities such as the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The organisation also runs assessment projects comparable to studies by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement.

It publishes teaching guides, curriculum frameworks, and assessment reports drawing on editorial practices similar to journals like Nature Geoscience, Journal of Geoscience Education, and Earth-Science Reviews. Resources include digital modules hosted in collaboration with repositories like the NASA Earth Observatory, datasets comparable to those of the European Space Agency, and pedagogical case studies featuring fieldwork examples from sites such as the Grand Canyon, Himalayas, Andes, and Great Barrier Reef. Monographs and position papers have been circulated in venues akin to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and white papers referenced by bodies like the World Meteorological Organization.

Regular international conferences mirror structures of the International Geological Congress and the American Geophysical Union meetings, while regional symposia are organized with partners such as the Asian Seismological Commission, African Union, and the European Commission's education directorates. Events feature keynote speakers from institutions like Stanford University, ETH Zurich, Columbia University, and Imperial College London and panels involving agencies like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Oceanographic Commission.

Strategic collaborations include work with the UNESCO International Geoscience Programme, joint projects with the International Union of Geological Sciences, and memoranda of understanding with national surveys including the Geological Survey of India, Geological Survey of Japan, and Servicio Geológico Colombiano. The organisation partners with museums and outreach bodies such as the Natural History Museum, Vienna, California Academy of Sciences, and networks like the Global Geoparks Network to promote field-based learning and community engagement. Collaborative research and policy initiatives have been undertaken with universities including McGill University, University of Auckland, and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and with funding agencies such as the European Research Council and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Category:Geoscience organizations