Greetings to the citizens of the great state of Tennessee as we prepare to celebrate Earth Science Week 2004. On September 14, 2004, Governor Phil Bredesen officially proclaimed the week of October 10 - 16, 2004, as Earth Science Week in Tennessee. In doing so, Governor Bredesen acknowledged this year's theme "Living on a Restless Earth: Natural Hazards" by recognizing that the earth sciences provide the basis for preparing for and mitigating natural hazards such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, indoor radon, and sinkholes experienced in Tennessee, and that geological factors of hazards are vital to land management and land use decisions made in Tennessee.
On October 14, 2004, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Department of
Earth and Planetary Sciences, in conjunction with the Frank H. McClung Museum,
will be hosting its Fifth Annual Earth Science Fair for middle and high school
students, teachers, and parents. Volunteers will provide displays, demonstrations,
and hands-on activities that will increase participants' understanding of the
impact of earth-related processes on their daily lives. Events will take place
at the Earth and Planetary Sciences building and the Frank H. McClung Museum
at the University of Tennessee's Knoxville campus and will run from 9:00 am
until 3:20 pm. Activities will include: gold panning, the world of caves, minerals
in everyday life, the Moon and Mars, a geologic time trail, mineral fluorescence,
the physics of magnetism, four activities at the Frank H. McClung Museum, and
much more. For those of you who are unable to attend a formal activity such
as this, I would encourage you to spend at least some time during Earth Science
Week thinking about how important earth science issues such as natural hazards
might affect your own lives.
WHEREAS, geology and the other earth sciences are fundamental to the safety, health, and welfare of Tennesseans and to the economy of Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, the earth sciences are integral to finding, developing, and conserving mineral, energy, and water resources needed for Tennessee's continuing prosperity; and
WHEREAS, the earth sciences provide the basis for preparing for and mitigating natural hazards such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, indoor radon, and sinkholes experienced in Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, the earth sciences are crucial to environmental and ecological issues ranging from water and air quality to waste disposal; and
WHEREAS, geological factors of resources, hazards, and environment are vital to land management and land use decisions made in Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, the earth sciences contribute critical pieces to our understanding and appreciation of, and our respect for nature;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Phil Bredesen, Governor of the State of Tennessee, do hereby proclaim the week of October 10 - 16, 2004 as,
EARTH SCIENCE WEEK
in Tennessee, and urge all citizens to join me in this worthy observance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal
of the State of Tennessee to be affixed at Nashville on this 14th day of
September, 2004.
Phil Bredesen
Governor
Riley C. Darnell
Secretary of State