How important is Earth (and Earth Science) to society?
The paper on which this article is printed, reading glasses, paste, blade, kitchen slab, spoon, plate, tiles, cell phone, battery, car, petrol….. What is the common thread that passes through these diverse items? They all contain materials obtained from Mother Earth! This article, being published sometime after Earth Day (April 22), showcases the significance of the earth and earth science to humans. Geology is generally understood as a subject that deals with the study of rocks but it is much more than that. It deals with the study of solid earth, its structure and composition, and all the processes that go on beneath and on the earth’s surface. Today we know that Planet Earth is not just solid earth but is a system that includes the atmosphere, hydrosphere (all water bodies), and cryosphere (glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice) in which biosphere (plants, animals, and microbes, including humans) thrives. Therefore, we call this discipline not geology but Earth System Science ; t...