Geologists Day

For many people, geology can be seen as an underappreciated science. This can be especially true when it is compared to other sciences such as physics, biology or chemistry. However, if humanity didn't have geologists, we wouldn't know how the earth was formed!

Origin of Geologists Day

The first Sunday in April is Geologists Day in order to express thank for all the research they've done to help understand more about how our world works.

Geologists Day is also a wonderful opportunity to study about historical geologists who have helped people understand our world better and maybe even inspired some to become geologists themselves!

Geology or the discovery of the composition of rocks, soil, and other materials, appeared from ancient Greece. To understand the world around them, Greek scientists, who wondered how rocks were formed, began studying fossils and creating theories to go along with the ideas and their research.

Then, during the Middle Ages, when science was said to have challenged the Catholic Church, more progress came (albeit sometimes subversive) in the field of geology. During this time, Leonardo da Vinci continuously explored the functions of the human body, however, it was so surprised that he became a pioneer in the field of geology.

One of da Vinci's interesting lines of research is related to fossils. He concluded that the fossils he and others found mounted on mountain peaks must have come from ancient seafloor-swimming animals, though none of them were certain exactly how they can get there.

During the 17th century, geologists had made some important things to connect the certain sedimentary deposits in the ocean and observable strata in rock formations. However, much of the explanation for how that happened remained a mystery until the birth of James Hutton and William 'Strata' Smith.

These two famous geologists have helped explain the long and slow development of the earth over thousands of years. Smith is also credited with creating the first, geologically detailed national map of any country in the world. In this case, the country was England and he has since been known as the 'Father of British Geology'.

Geologists Day was actually the idea of ​​​​a group of famous Soviet geologists who founded it in April 1966. This holiday was chosen in spring because it seems to witness the end of winter and is a time of increasing summer field work when geologists are very active.

Although this continues to be a favorite day for the Russian Society of Mineralogy, the date has finally moved beyond the former Soviet Union and geologists, geophysicists and geochemists in various places in Europe, the United States and other countries around the world have begun to recognize it.

How to celebrate Geologists Day

Do you plan any party or contest on this day? Geologists Day will be joyful for both professional rock lovers and hobbyists alike! This day tries to help further research into how the earth formed. It is a great chance to learn about the history of the earth, geologists have studied the earth and helped inspire everyone out there to study geology.

Consider these ways to celebrate the day or come up with other creative ideas:

Learn more about geology

How about learning something about the discipline of geologist and how it works. Do you know what the job of geologist is? They include digging in rocks, looking at maps and studying how they all form. Use these online resources to learn more about geology:

• American Geological Association
• International Association for the Promotion of Geographic Ethics
• Association of Economic Geologists

If you would like to know more, let take the time to take part in some online classes to get more knowledge. Look at the history of geologists, what they believed about the earth at the time they lived. If it turns out there's a rock lover inside, just waiting to get out, why don't you go to school to get a degree?!

Showing gratitude to a geologist

Geologists Day aims to express gratitude to geologists who continue to study rocks and all of their formations who may have made a difference in our understanding of the world we live in.

Share Geologists Day with your friends

Show appreciation for geologists' research by sharing this holiday with friends and family. It is greater by holding a geology party or keeping it small by simply gifting a friend or coworker a rock or small rock as a token of the day. Whatever method you choose, just acknowledging this date is a step in the right direction in appreciating the earth and its scientists!