Fostering Earth Science Education: The Contribution of the EGU Education Committee

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) Education Committee (EC) is dedicated to the advancement of Earth Science education on a global scale. In pursuit of this objective, the EGU EC provides educators with innovative learning opportunities and a wide range of initiatives, in order to equip them with the necessary tools and resources.

One of the primary EC initiatives is the Geosciences Information for Teachers (GIFT) workshop, which is held annually during the EGU General Assembly. Its purpose is to help primary and secondary school teachers to receive the most up-to-date scientific knowledge by interacting with renowned scientists through engaging lectures, hands-on activities and classroom-ready educational resources.

The EGU Geoscience Field Officers (GEFO) initiative aims to train teachers in various countries in order to provide professional development to science and geography teachers at regional and national levels. Field officers receive training in the delivery of hands-on workshops that are tailored to their respective curricula, encompassing geoscience and geography.

Additionally, the EC provides support to selected geoscience educational initiatives in Europe and beyond, thus contributing to the advancement of Earth Science education through numerous pilot projects. These projects include field schools for teachers, geoscience events and conferences for educators, and material kits for schools.

Finally, the "EGU Teacher-Scientist Pairing Scheme", a joint initiative with the EGU Outreach Committee, aims to establish a network connecting scientists with educators and their classrooms. The scheme has been developed to facilitate the integration of scientific concepts into the classroom environment through the use of a "guest" scientist's lively video presence, in conjuction with hands-on activities guided by the in-class teacher.