National academy demands joint approach to Earth science

Move to create single discipline could reduce fragmentation and help Germany tackle climate change

The Leopoldina, Germany’s national science academy, has called on universities and research institutes to bundle dozens of individual geoscientific disciplines into one field called Earth System Science.

The move would improve communication between different disciplines and increase cooperation, thereby leading to better forecasts and solutions for the planet, the academy said. This was especially important as human actions are increasingly jeopardising Earth’s stability and the wellbeing of future generations.