International Earth and Space Science Resources
International and Multinational Agencies and Programs
National and Multinational Space Agencies
International and Multinational Agencies and Programs
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
UNESCO is the primary United Nations affiliated organization that engages in earth science studies. Its divisions and programs cover earth science, environmental science, hydrology, oceanography and coastal studies. Links to the most important divisions and programs are listed below.
Most of UNESCO's earth science-related divisions and programs can be found through this link.
Bureau for the Coordination of Environmental Programmes
This bureau is "charged with ensuring policy coherence and unity of purpose among UNESCO's activities related to environment and sustainable development."
Interdisciplinary program in the natural and social sciences studying the relationship between humans and the environment. The emphasis of this program is on the conservation and sustainable use of our natural resources. One of the major projects of the Man and Biosphere program is a world wide system of biosphere reserves. Biosphere reserves in the United States include the Everglades, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Yellowstone.
The aim of this division is to serve the geoscience needs of society. These needs include the study of the Earth's resources, natural hazards, and environmental concerns. One of the divisions major programs is the International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP) started in 1972 with the aim of bringing together geoscientists from the East, the West, and the developing countries of the world.
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
Focuses on the Earth's ocean environment through promoting oceanographic research, the establishment of a global ocean observing system, providing international leadership and technical assistance, and ensuring the availability of ocean data and information.
International Hydrological Programme Promotes the study and understanding of the Earth's hydrologic cycle and its importance to humans, with an emphasis on the proper management of the Earth's freshwater resources.
Coastal Regions and Small Islands
Sixty percent of the Earth's people live in coastal regions and small islands, and many of these areas are poor and sometimes densely populated. This division concentrates on the particular problems and needs of these regions.
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
United Nations' office for studying issues of the use of space and its impact on human society. An important concern of this office is the distribution of the benefits of space technology to developing countries.
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an United Nations specialized agency. Major concerns of the WMO are weather and tropical storm prediction, air pollution, climate change, and ozone layer depletion.
The International Lead and Zinc Study Group
The International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) is an intergovernmental organization comprised of twenty-eight member countries with significant involvement in the production and consumption of lead and zinc. Although much of the activities of the ILZSG around trade and other economic issues, they do study and discuss environmental issues concerning the production and consumption of lead and zinc resources.
Most countries in the world have a national geological survey that is responsible for studying the country's physical environment, including the rocks and sediments, the freshwater and sea water, and the atmosphere. The research conducted by these geological surveys usually covers much more than just mapping the rocks and sedimentary deposits that make up the country's land surface. Research also cover resources, natural hazards, and environmental degradation. Below are selected national geological surveys, primarily those with an English language version of their Web site.
Austria: Geological Survey of Austria
Australia: Australian Geological Survey Organisation
Brazil: Geological Survey of Brazil
Britain: British Geological Survey
Canada: Geological Survey of Canada
Czech Republic: Czech Geological Survey
Denmark and Greenland: Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
Egypt: Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority
Estonia: Geological Survey of Estonia
Fiji: Mineral Resources Department
Finland: Geological Survey of Finland
France: Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres
Germany: Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)
Greece: Institute of Geology & Mineral Exploration
Hungary: Hungarian Geological Survey
Ireland: Geological Survey of Ireland
Italy: Geological Survey of Italy
Japan: Geological Survey of Japan
Korea: Korea Institute of Geology, Mining & Materials
Lithuania: Geological Survey of Lithuania
Namibia: Geological Survey of Namibia
New Zealand: Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences
Norway: Geological Survey of Norway
Slovenia: Geological Survey of Slovenia
South Africa: Council for Geoscience
Sweden: Geological Survey of Sweden
United States of America: United States Geological Survey
National and Multinational Space Agencies
Many countries have a national space agency that is engaged in the study of the solar system or the Earth from space. Although space agencies are generally most well known for the exploration of the moon, Mars, and the rest of the solar system, a great deal of their efforts are focused on our own planet, primarily through the use of satellites. These satellite studies help us to understand changes in our planet and its atmosphere from a global perspective and help us to understand such problems as climate change and the development of the Antarctic ozone hole.
Austria: Austrian Space Agency
Britain: British National Space Centre
Canada: Canadian Space Agency
Denmark: Danish Space Research Institute
Europe: European Space Agency
France: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
Germany: German Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR)
India: Indian Space Research Organisation
Israel: Israel Space Agency
Italy: Italian Space Agency
Japan: National Space Development Agency of Japan
Netherlands: Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programmes
Norway: Norwegian Space Centre
Romania: Romanian Space Agency
Russia: Russian Space Agency
Spain: Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial
Sweden: Swedish Space Corporation
United States of America: National Aeronautics & Space Administration
This page was created by Robert Tolliver on November 28, 1999.