Earth Science Week runs October 10–16, 2027, a yearly invitation to explore the rocks and water around us. The American Geosciences Institute, or AGI, started it in 1998.
Second Full Week of October
Every year, during the second full week of October, Sunday through Saturday. In 2026 it ran October 11 to 17.
Sponsors and partner groups work with the institute on materials. Schools and museums host many of the events.
Started in 1998
AGI launched it in 1998 to help people understand the Earth sciences. Each year since has brought a new theme and classroom toolkit.
Themes change the focus. In 2013 it was “Mapping Our World,” and in 2026 “Critical Minerals for a Thriving Society.”
Partners help build the materials. In 2024, 13 organizations sponsored the week and 42 contributed content, 12 of them for the first time.
By 2013, the institute said, the week was reaching more than 50 million people each year.
Why Earth Science Matters
Minerals were front and center in 2026. AGI’s theme highlighted how critical minerals support essential needs.
Geoscience knowledge is needed at every step, AGI said, from finding those minerals to using them responsibly.
Classrooms get a lot of support. AGI packs 9,000 toolkits each year and ships them to teachers, individuals and other groups who request them.
Interest is global. In its latest report, AGI said 23 countries took part by hosting events or ordering toolkits.
Online reach is wider still. Visitors from 175 nations, territories and regions used the Earth Science Week website.
Contests and webinars keep students involved. More than 500 people entered contests, and over 1,000 watched the webinar series live.
Newsletters keep the conversation going after October. More than 3,000 people subscribe to the Earth Science Week newsletter.
Ways to Explore
You don’t need a lab to do Earth science. A walk outside, a creek bed or even a gravel driveway is a fine place to start looking.
- Collect a few rocks and try to identify them with a field guide.
- Order or download the Earth Science Week toolkit for a classroom.
- Visit a natural history museum or a local geology exhibit.
- Look up which minerals end up inside your phone or laptop, and where they’re mined.
- Enter one of the week’s student contests, which have drawn hundreds of entries.
- Sign up for the Earth Science Week newsletter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who organizes Earth Science Week?
A nonprofit geoscience institute, with help from sponsors.
Is it only for students?
No. Families and clubs join in too.
Are the toolkits free?
Ordering details vary by year, so check the official site.
Does Earth Science Week have a theme?
Yes. Each edition picks a new topic for classrooms to explore.