ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book argues that university research and teaching programs in the area of earth resources is at surprisingly low ebb. The focus of Federal support to the geosciences in universities has been on basic research, as it should be, but little of this has gone into basic resource research. The book shows that about fifteen Federal agencies deal with geoscience issues in one way or another. Communication with university geoscientists is quite variable, perhaps because science research at the universities is at a low ebb, or perhaps because there is a lack of knowledge on how to communicate. Geoscience research will provide no panaceas for solving the energy problems of the country. The opportunities and challenges for geoscientists in government, in industry, and in the universities are manifold.
