Whereas this year marks the 19th annual international World Space Week, designated by the United Nations to celebrate at the international level the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition; Whereas this year marks the 21st annual international Earth Science Week, designated by the American Geosciences Institute to help the public gain a better understanding and appreciation for the Earth sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth; Whereas the theme for World Space Week 2018, Space Unites the World , will celebrate the role of space in bringing the world closer together and consist of a myriad of space-related events held by space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetaria, museums, and astronomy clubs in a common timeframe to achieve greater student and public impact through synchronization; Whereas the theme for Earth Science Week 2018, Earth as Inspiration , will emphasize artistic expression as a unique, powerful opportunity for geoscience education and understanding in the 21st century and engage young people and others in exploring the relationship between the arts and the Earth systems to promote public understanding and stewardship of the planet, especially in terms of the ways art relates to geoscience principles and issues as diverse as energy, climate change, the environment, natural disasters, technology, industry, agriculture, recreation, and the economy; Whereas the study of Earth sciences leads to an improved understanding of the Earth’s natural systems and the interplay between human society and these systems; Whereas the Earth sciences provide the basis for mitigating natural hazards such as droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, coastal erosion, landslides, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, space weather, and other hazards; Whereas the Earth and space sciences contribute to our understanding of Earth as a planet in our solar system and the universe