As well as biological data, evolutionary theory is critically dependent on various Earth science disciplines, such as geochronology, paleoenvironmental analysis, sedimentology, paleoceanography, and others. This symposium reviews how geologic events and conditions have influenced the course of evolution, how geochronology confirms the timing and rates of evolutionary change, and how paleoenvironmental inference reveals the modes and consequences of evolution within those environments. Plate tectonics, mountain building, volcanism, extraterrestrial impacts, ocean overturns, and environmental change through time all play significant roles in the history of life. Age dating provides critical temporal evidence for these events. Each talk will have an education component that will address current issues arising from Earth science information that can be used in teaching the broader basis for evolution. A discussion with the speakers and the audience led by Eugenie Scott will summarize and draw conclusions about how evolution relies on the latest information from geology as well as other sciences. Biologic evolution is solidly based on good science in general and Earth sciences in particular.