Earth Science Week 2026

October 11^th-17^th

Critical Minerals for a Thriving Society

Earth Science Week, celebrated each October, is an international education campaign organized by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) reaching millions of people with activities, materials, and information about the geosciences.

The 2026 Earth Science Week theme, “Critical Minerals for a Thriving Society,” highlights how critical minerals support essential needs and how the development of new technologies can affect which minerals are considered critical and how geoscience knowledge is essential for identifying, mining, refining, transporting, and using them responsibly. Geoscientists also address how mineral use impacts Earth’s systems, including landscapes, water and air quality, and the global carbon cycle.

You are invited to join the celebration of Earth Science Week 2026! Play your part by learning about and raising awareness of earth science in your community. You can participate by:

1. Watch an interesting webinar!
The American Geosciences Institute kicked off celebrations of the 2026 ESW theme, “Critical Minerals for a Thriving Society” with an Earth Day webinar. Tune in at 1 PM ET on YouTube Live to catch each webinar premiere! Engage directly with the presenters as they field your questions and contribute to discussions in the chat. Learn more here »

Register here »

• Critical Minerals in a Circular Economy
• From Mine to Market: Minerals Critical to our Food
• Let’s Talk: Critical Minerals, Sustainability and Energy
• Innovative Technologies for Critical Mineral Supplies
• Exploring Critical Minerals Through Place-Based Learning

2. Enter a Contest!
For Earth Science Week, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) sponsors four contests focusing on the year’s theme. Whether you’re a budding photographer, an aspiring filmmaker, a visual artist, or a reflective writer, we have a platform for you to showcase your talents. Check out the 2025 winners and learn more about the Earth Science Week Contests and rules here ».

This year Earth Science Week Focus Days are:

• Sunday, October 11
  International Earthcache Day. Hosted by the Geological Society of America and Geocaching.com, explore the world with this GPS scavenger hunt!
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• Monday, October 12
  Minerals Day. Hosted by the Mineralogical Society of America, join us in raising awareness of and appreciation for minerals and mineralogy!


• Tuesday, October 13
  Earth Observation Day. Hosted by AmericaView, engage students and teachers in remote sensing as an exciting and powerful educational tool.
  No Child Left Inside Day. Hosted by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), NCLI Day encourages students to go outside and research Earth and environmental science in the field like a professional geoscientist.


• Wednesday, October 14
  National Fossil Day. Hosted by the National Park Service, the annually held National Fossil Day celebration is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of fossils.


• Thursday, October 15
  Geoscience for Everyone Day. Do your part to help young people from underrepresented communities explore exciting careers in the geosciences.


• Friday, October 16
  Geologic Map Day. Hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey, Association of American State Geologists, National Park Service, Geological Society of America, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in partnership with AGI, this special event promotes awareness of the study, uses, importance of geologic mapping for education, science, business, and a variety of public policy concerns.


• Saturday, October 17
  International Archaeology Day. Hosted by the Archaeological Institute of America, this special event is a celebration of archaeology and the thrill of discovery.

The American Geosciences Institute (AGI), a federation of scientific and professional associations representing over a quarter-million geoscientists, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving the geoscience community and addressing the geoscience needs of society. AGI headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia.