CIRCULAR

Preamble
The General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution tabled by the United Republic of Tanzania and co-signed by 82 nations, to proclaim 2008 as the International year of Planet Earth (IYPE). This UN year will be the core of a triennium, starting in 2007 and continuing until the end of 2009. It is a joint venture of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and former Earth Science Division of UNESCO. The main thrust of this year is to highlight and create awareness and research on ten socially relevant themes viz., groundwater, health, climate, hazards, resources, megacities, ocean, soil, deep earth and life. IYPE is being celebrated world wide at a juncture when our planet earth is at a crucial phase to chalk out solutions to acute problems like safe drinking water crisis in rural and urban sectors, rapid degradation of the environment and global warming, energy crisis, resource (land, mineral, water, soil, forest) management in the context of over population in different countries including India i.e. about 110 crores.

The central theme of IYPE “Earth System Science for Society” initiated by Dr. Eduardo. F.J. De. Mulder, Chair, Board of Officers of International Year of Planet Earth, his team members, organizers of national committees of different countries with much enthusiasm and seriousness shall definitely culminate in world wide awareness and solutions to critical social problems to a great extent.
In this era of electronics and information technology, advanced and updated knowledge on geo-science & environment should reach students, researchers, academicians, geoscientists and technocrats of our country to develop and enhance the potential of human resource to interdisciplinary knowledge based society, which would in turn have some contributions to solve societal problems. The exchange of thoughts and interaction among teaching faculty, research scientists, technocrats and students would further enhance the excellence in teaching-research- application / implementation cycle leading to social transformation.
In this context, as a part of triennium celebration (2007-2009) of IYPE,the first National Programme of our country on E-Geo-science & Environment Teaching and Learning (EGETL) has been launched under the aegis of Indian Society for Earth, Planetary and Environmental Sciences (ISEPES) and P.G. DepartmentofGeology,KhallikoteAutonomousCollege,Berhampur-760001, Orissa, India. This Programme can serve as knowledge reservoir of diversified branches of earth system science & environment within one platform to address visionary perspectives on ten themes of IYPE along with other important aspects like:

remote sensing and GIS for rural and urban development,
geo-science and energy resources including alternative energy resources and their effective use, management with environmental considerations) ,
mineral resources, their evaluation, mining, management & environmental considerations,
mineral processing technology
isotope geology, geo physics, geochemistry and their applications in earth sciences
micropalaeontology and its applications in earth science,
glacial geology and environment with special reference to Himalayan glaciers,
nano-geoscience,
geo statistics and its applications,
medical geology,
geo-science and cultural heritage , geo-park, geo-tourism, geo-ethics,
cyber- infrastructure and geo-science, computer applications in geo- science,
environmental science (waste management, pollution & environment, environmental geochemistry, global warming, mining &environment, geological and ecological perspectives of wetlands, their restoration & management, biodiversity & environment)
space , planetary & atmospheric sciences,
and IGEO thrust areas including pedagogy of geo-science education at school, college and outreach levels with special emphasis on social relevance and sustainable development.
Curriculum & objectives of EGETL

(1) To provide information to students, research scientists, academicians on advanced and updated knowledge & development in the field of geo- science & environment touching ten socially relevant themes viz., ground water, health, climate, hazards, resources, megacities, ocean, soil, deep earth and life along with IGEO and AGID thrust areas and other aspects of earth system science & environment followed by interactive programme through electronics and communication technology.

(2) To conduct E-Quiz Competitions based on aforementioned themes for school and college students through software development & internet facility,

(3) To conduct audio visual show for students and outreach community on applied aspects of Earth System Science and Environment ,

(4) To encourage students and other members of geo-fraternity for development of geo-animation technology with 3-D live demo through software development ,

(5) To circulate video footage on different aspects of IYPE themes and other aspects of Earth System Science & environment among students, researchers and different spheres of geo-community through internet facility,

(6) To create a website: http://www.essforsociety.org during IYPE for systematic storage of huge information and research data on ten socially relevant themes along with video footage related to IYPE and other aspects of earth system science and environment,

(7) To prepare a Geo-album containing classic, rare, strategic & monumental photographs related to IYPE themes and on other aspects of earth system science & environment for wide circulation,

(8) To inform about institutions for higher study/trainings

(9) To inform students time to time about employment prospects in different companies/enterprises etc.

(10) To send biodata/curriculum vitae of meritorious pass out students to different companies/enterprises for employment.

Modus operandi

E-Geo science & Environment platform shall be enriched through contributions of study/reference materials, geo-news, video footage etc by eminent & learned geoscientists, academicians of our country to egeologyteaching@rediffmail.com.
This aforementioned platform shall be monitored by a group of devoted geo scientists & academicians. They shall screen/review the materials collected from different sources for onward transmission to students, researchers & academicians systematically under different categories adopting electronics and communication technology media. Students can mail their questions to egeologyteaching@rediffmail.com for clarifications. Further this forum shall prepare innovative software comprising teaching methodology on different branches of earth system science. Further this e-platform shall provide information to students regarding employment opportunities in different companies/enterprises time to time.

Procedure of registration
Students, research scientists, academicians and technocrats interested in this National Programme can register their names as members by sending resume / biodata /curriculum vitae (passport/stamp size photograph, name, designation, present address, telephone/cell no, date of birth, educational qualification, experience, specialization etc) to egeologyteaching@rediffmail.com for free registration.
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Request
Academicians, research scientists and geo-technocrats of our country and abroad are requested to come forward to extend their benign support and co-operation for successful implementation of this National Programme by contributing good articles (study/reference materials), relevant & strategic photographs, notes, geo-news, video footage, conference/seminar details and particulars on publication of books & journals and websites related to Earth System Science and other aforementioned themes to egeologyteaching@rediffmail.com followed by a soft copy in CD-ROM to the chief co-ordinator by post for circulation among 1000 readers at present. The study/reference materials shall be circulated to students/researchers through e-mail and internet facility. Views and suggestions to improve & enhance this national programme for the greater interest of our society shall be highly appreciated. We also request you to go through the objectives of the newly formed society, ISEPES mentioned under N.B in the last page. Your valuable comments/views on the same shall energize us to achieve the goal & motto “Earth System Science for Society & sustainable development”. COME FORWARD & EXTEND YOUR COOPERATION FOR A GREATER CAUSE.

Enquiry & Correspondence
Dr. B. Mishra,
Chief Co-ordinator,
National Programme on E-Geo-science & Environment Teaching and Learning (EGETL),
Science Communication Division, Indian Society for Earth, Planetary and Environmental Sciences (ISEPES),
Head Office -Baradanda,
P.O-Keonjhar Bazar-758 002,
Dist.Keonjhar,Orissa.

Branch Office-
ChandrapravaStreet-2,
Berhampur-760001,Orissa,India,
E-mail:egeologyteaching@rediffmail.com
bmishrageol@ rediffmail.com
Tel: +91-0680-2223966, Cell: 094379 73748
P.G. Dept. of Geology,
Khallikote Autonomous College,Berhampur-760 001,Orissa

Joint Co-ordinators of this National Programme
Dr. V. Balaram,
Vice-president, ISEPES ;
Joint Co-ordinator of the National Programme and Scientist G & Head, Geo- Chemistry Group, National Geophysical Research Laboratory (NGRI), Hyderabad-500 007,Andhra Pradesh,, E-mail: balaramv1951@yahoo.com, Tel:+91- 040-2717014 (O), 040-23434800 (R)

Prof D.Venkat Reddy,
Joint Co-ordinator
,EGETL; Professor, Geology Section Dept of CIVIL Engineering National Institute of Technology-Karnataka(NITK) Srinivasangar-575025,Mangalore
Phone : 0824-247400-ext 3344(Ofice) 4344(Res) 0824-247434(Res), E-Mail dvr1952@gmail.com / dvr1952@yaho.co.in

Dr.D.Sengupta,
Joint Co-ordinator, EGETL; Associate editor, Geo-spectrum Interface; Professor, Dept of Geology & Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur -721302,WestBengal,E-mail:dsgg@gg.iitkgp.ernet.inTel:+91-03222-277725,Cell:09434741180

Advisory Board

Dr. S.Das,
Professor of Geology,Indian Institute of Technology(IIT),Kharagpur-721302,WestBengal

Dr. P.K.Das,
Professor of Geology,Department of Geological Sciences,Gauhati University,Guwahati-781 014,Assam

Dr K.N.Singh ,
School of studies in Geology,Vikram University,Ujjain,M.P

Dr P. Sangurmath,
Hutti Gold Mines Co. Limited, HUTTI-584 115
Raichur, Karnataka, India

Dr M.W.Y.Khan,
Professor and Head of the Dept of Geology,
School of Studies in Geology,Pt. R.S.University,RAIPUR-492 010
E-mail : mwykhan@rediffmail.com

N.B: Objectives of ISEPES

     Indian Society for Earth, Planetary and Environmental Sciences (ISEPES) in order to popularize and promote Earth, Ocean, Space, Planetary, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences publishes the journal – Geo-Spectrum Interface bi annually. This journal aims at publishing articles (research papers, review papers, short communications, and notes) with lucid explanation and popular mode of presentation emphasizing social relevance and sustainable development. Other important activities include national programme on E-Geo-science & Environment Teaching and Learning(EGETL) , conduct of seminars, workshops, quiz and poster competitions and publications of learning materials for students of schools, colleges and universities of our country as a part of popularization and promotion of Earth, Ocean, Space, Planetary, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences; conduct of Scientific Awareness Development Programmes (SADP) in the fields of natural disasters (earthquake, tsunami, floods, land slides etc.) and natural resources (land, water, mineral, soil etc.) with their ways of management, scientific studies constituting eminent and dedicated scientists of our country and abroad on all aforementioned branches of Earth System Science , provision of awards to scientists of our country and abroad for their outstanding contributions to earth, ocean, atmospheric, space, planetary and environmental sciences, conduct of programmes on Environment Education for Citizens and Students (EECS), Wasteland Reclamation Programme (WRP) through plantation for protection of environment, conduct of Employment Generative and Technology Enabled Training Programme (EGTETP) and free consultancy for Ph.D guidance in earth, atmospheric and ocean sciences. Please visit our website:http://www.geospectrum.org to have a comprehensive idea about our society, ISEPES & journal.