Earth Scientists - Essay Example

Running Head: Earth Scientists Earth Scientists [Institute’s Earth Scientists Since centuries, humans have endeavored to progress in different fields, and such development has brought human society on the current scenario where science and technology has enabled humans to perform tasks that were not possible in the past, and benefit from the resources in a magnificent manner. In this progress, earth sciences is one of the fields that provides comprehensive understanding of earth structures and processes, and allows earth scientists to analyze the previous earth systems and processes, in order to provide better future to the coming generations (Geological Society of India, 1991). In particular, earth science focuses on the study of earthly structures that play a crucial role in the global environment of the planet. Earth scientists carry out analytical studies that are very valuable for decision-making processes of future attitude of humans on the planet. Earth is a very precious thing for humans, as it provides a living environment to the humans, and since centuries, it has been the only source for humans’ survival and fulfillment of necessities (History of the Earth Sciences Society, 2003). In specific, earth scientists play a significant role in providing critical information regarding natural systems, and it is anticipation that even when humans will be able to acquire resources from other planets, earth scientists will be the sole source of information in this process. In this regard, earth scientists have enormous responsibilities on their shoulders, and besides provision of insights of the earth systems and processes, they have some social and environmental responsibilities as well that they should not overlook, in order to ensure a living-life earth structure for future generations (National Research Council, 1993). Even after centuries, earth has continued to provide enormous resources to the humans for their progress, and it is still providing huge spaces for storing waste materials as well. However, it is very imperative that earth scientists should take care of the environment while benefiting from the earth structures, and that is where, they have to play their role socially as well. Provision of critical information regarding earth structures and natural systems is the major responsibility of earth scientists; however, they have a greater role to play by ensuring practice and implementation of principles on the industrial level as well. It is an observation that although global warming has been a critical issue since a decade; however, earth scientists are not playing a significant role in reducing the causes of this issue, and are busy in benefiting from earthly resources in a careless manner (Sen, 2009). For example, studies (Nance, 1999) have indicated that industrial fishing is one of the major causes of exploitation of earthly resources in which, industrial factory ships are catching fishes in huge quantities that is abusing sea population in an adverse manner. Unfortunately, a number of governments, as well as the World Bank are promoting such practices to collect huge foreign currencies to avoid financial debts (Young, 1999). In addition, earth scientists are playing an unfavorable role by participating in such practices that will result in salination of ground water, and subsequently, scarcity of fresh drinking water that will be the biggest environmental and social issue in the coming decades according to experts. Interestingly, it is a fact that majority of crises of current centuries are manmade unlike crises occurred in different parts of earth in previous centuries. In this regard, at some point, earth scientists are responsible for such situation of the earth, and thus, it is now time that they should take serious steps as social citizens of the planet to save earth for coming centuries. Black Water is another example of earth exploitation, industrial practice of streaming down polluted water into seas, and waters that were once rich have now become a threat for marine life, as well as life of communities that rely on marine life (Baker, 2000). In this instance, earth scientists should focus their studies on such issues and provide alternative solutions to these industries that are continuously affecting the global environment adversely. The earth is now confronting global warming, deteriorated biospheric life systems, and exploited agricultural structures that will be causing greater crises in the future. Earth scientists are very imperative in agriculture, and they provide huge amount of insights to agriculturalists regarding the earth processes. However, besides provision of information, earth scientists should now begin to alter their priorities from financial benefits and collection of unlimited number of resources to environmental sustainability (Hazen, 1991). In other words, besides scientific contribution, earth scientists have a greater role to play in terms of changing their attitudes toward earth structures, as similar approach towards earth resources will result in huge crises earlier than expected by environmentalists. Earth is like a crew ship where humans are not only passengers but also responsible members of the ship that must contribute equally to ensure proper functioning of the ship. In other words, only protests will not make a difference, and it is important to bring a significant alteration in human behavior in terms of environmental responsibilities. Although every human is responsible for present condition of the earth, however, earth scientists have a higher responsibility due to their knowledge about the systems. In addition, although earth scientists provide crucial information to the humans, but it is observation that there has been a issue of time management, and thus, earth scientists will have to provide useful information at the right time for altering practices of humankind on societal basis (R.I.C, 2007). At the same time, human societies have the equal responsibility as only provision of information will not make a different until and unless other members of the society will consider and implement the scientific evidence provided by the earth scientists. For such purpose, it is the social responsibility of earth scientists to take some time to aware nonprofessionals in the public besides providing their services for industries and governments for financial reasons. Only such contribution of earth scientists will create a communal relationship that is now very imperative for environmental sustainability. In other words, there is now an issue of disparity between science and faith (awareness). Science is the sole proprietor of evidence and authentic; however, at the same time, only practical contribution and alteration of earth scientists’ approach will reduce and eliminate this disparity and this will be possible through educating public that is another significant responsibility of earth scientists (Lederman, 2007). The next five decades will be crucial and critical in terms of deciding the future of human race on the face of this planet. The world is presently facing the economic issue; however, experts believe that environmental crisis will be more intense and harsh as compared to the economic crisis. Thus, it is important that earth scientists should play their role of responsible citizens of the earth by making contribution by going out of the box, rather than limiting themselves for only scientific expeditions. References Baker, V. R. (2000). Earth matters. Prentice Hall. Geological Society of India. (1991). “Role of earth sciences in solving problems of our country-side.” Journal of the Geological Society of India. Volume 37, pp. 1. Hazen, R. B. (1991). Science matters. Anchor Books. History of the Earth Sciences Society. (2003). Earth sciences history. The Society Press. Lederman, N. G. (2007). Handbook of research on science education. Routledge. Nance, D. (1999). Earth science today. Brooks. National Research Council. (1993). Solid-earth sciences and society. National Academies Press. R.I.C. (2007). Planet earth 2008. R.I.C. Publications. Sen, Z. (2009). Spatial modeling practices in earth sciences. Springer. Young, E. D. (1999). Innovations in earth sciences. ABC-CLIO. 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