Thefollowingarticlesetsforththeconceptualstrategicframeworkthatguidedtheorganizationandplanningoftherecent,highlysuccessful32ndInternationalGeologicalCongress,heldinFlorence,Italy,August20-28,2004.ThisvisionofthedesiredfuturestateoftheEarthsciencesispresentedhereinordertoextendsignificantlyitsdistributionbeyondthe7000+Congressparticipants.Earthscientistsaroundthewormareencouragedtoconsider,digest,anddiscussitsobservations,conclusions,andrecommendationstoimprovetherelevanceandsharpenthefocusofcurrentandfutureactivitiesintheEarthsciences.[OriginallypublishedinthedailynewspaperoftheCongress,""32ndIGCINFORMS,""No.9,August28,2004,anddistributedtoCongressparticipants.AvailablealsoonthelUGSwebsite.]
