Planet Earth International 2009

Planet Earth 2009:an o
Political support
for the aims and
ambitions of the IYPE
The International Year of Planet Earth’s global launch event created much
political support for the ambition of bringing Earth sciences back into the
v
curriculae of schools and universities.
erview
By EDUARDO DE MULDER
T
he idea for an International Year of beautiful, seemingly
Planet Earth ﬁ rst emerged in 2000 fragile, blue planet
during a period of fundamental thinking was ﬁ rst seen from
about how to interest more youngsters space.
in enrolling for Earth science courses in As President of
universities. It was known that all around the International
the world their numbers had been declining Union of Geological
since the mid-1980s and had reached Sciences (IUGS: a
dramatically low levels, such that in many non-governmental
universities the very survival of the Earth scientiﬁ c ‘umbrella’
sciences as an academic discipline was in o r g a n i s a t i o n ) ,
question. In those days, most 17- to 18- together with the
National Launch Event Italy
year-olds preferred to sign up for courses in Director of the Earth
– President of the Republic
subjects believed to lead to glamorous and Science Division in honours award winning
well-paid careers in economics and law, for UNESCO, we pushed
students.
example, rather than those that explore the this gem of an idea

D exciting physical world around them. forward, ultimately gaining the support One of the aims of the IYPE is to convince
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Some 50 years earlier, in 1957-58, the of six of UNESCO’s member countries. politicians of the need to bring the Earth
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International Geophysical Year (IGY) had After ﬁ ve years of preparation by a small sciences back into schools’ and universities’
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.
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generated much excitement. In addition, team, in December 2005 the UN General curriculae. Given that this demanded action at
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O
global interest in our planet and its Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming national levels in the ﬁ rst place, IYPE invited
I
S
,

immediate surroundings was fuelled by the 2008 as the International Year of Planet countries to set up National Committees for
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F
.
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launch of the Russian Sputnik Satellite on Earth (IYPE). Soon afterwards, the IYPE IYPE, with a view to organising interesting
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3
2 4 October 1957 and the emergence of the Corporation extended the venture into a events and outreach activities in their own

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succeeding ‘space race’ during which our triennium: 2007, 2008 and 2009. environments, and attract the interest
www.yearofplanetearth.org PLANET EARTH 23
PE6.intern.overview.kj.mw.indd 23 12/2/09 5:30:26 pm
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