In 2003, the Institute of Geosciences of the University of São Paulo created a four-year night course designed to provide a Teaching Degree in Geosciences and Environmental Education for 40 students per year. Graduates with this degree will be able to provide a holistic view of nature, especially with respect to: the relationships between the history of life and the geologic history of planet Earth; how natural phenomena relate to basic principles of physics and chemistry; and how natural earth processes affect daily life, thereby showing the links between natural processes and environmental problems. These professionals will be able to participate in scholastic education at the elementary, middle-school and technical-school levels as well as in extra-scholastic environmental education, such as at museums, science centers, libraries, public park systems, civil associations, NGOs, companies linked to ecological planning and/or ecological tourism, and environmental education programs. These professionals will help close the large gap in knowledge at all levels of Brazilian society with regard to the Earth and its natural materials, processes, and perils, both urban and rural; they will also contribute to the formation of informed citizens both aware of the necessity for the conscientious use and occupation of the environment and sensitive to environmental problems. This paper describes in detail the creation, objectives, and structure of this new course and emphasizes the importance of the Earth Sciences in Education in general and in Environmental Education in particular.
