COMMUNICATING GEOSCIENCES TO THE PUBLIC

Geoscientists deal with complex issues that are often highly relevant to people's lives, ranging from safety around active volcanic and seismic areas to global warming. Public education is key to sustainability and active research scientists can contribute greatly to public education. However, research scientists have great demands placed on their time and resources and often are unsure how to communicate science to the public effectively. Although at present scientists at all ranks are encouraged by their institutions to do outreach, the balancing of a successful scientific career with teaching and outreach is often not an easy one, particularly for young scientists. This talk will offer suggestions on how to balance an active science research program with outreach activities, the many different ways to engage in education and public outreach, and how the rewards are truly priceless.