Over the last century our description of the movement and deformation of the Earth's outer layer evolved from the hypothesis of Continental Drift into Sea-Floor Spreading and then to the theory of Plate Tectonics. Now a fourth revolution is underway in which Plate Tectonics is being subsumed into the new framework of Mantle Dynamics. This will allow the full dynamic understanding and prediction of Earth motion and deformation using interdisciplinary techniques. Through the Centre for Advanced Study Norway has a unique opportunity to make a key contribution to understanding the Dynamic Earth by gathering top scientists in palaeomagnetism, marine geophysics, plate kinematics, seismic tomography, mineral physics, comparative planetology, and mantle and lithosphere modelling ─ This will set the stage for long-term scientific achievements that should ultimately explain plate tectonics in the framework of mantle convection.