EARTHCUBE ON YOUTUBE: A STUDENT-PRODUCED VIDEO TO ENCOURAGE INTEREST IN THE EARTHCUBE INITIATIVE
Students came from a wide range of disciplines including geology, geophysics, geological engineering, mining engineering, and atmospheric sciences. Of the 73 respondents, the majority of students and researchers report that they spend 30% of their time searching for Earth science data. Over 60% agreed that having all Earth science data available digitally would make their work more efficient and increase their interactions with other. About 80% of the viewers felt the video was informative and gave them a clear idea of what EarthCube was about, as well as making them excited about accessing Earth science data through a centralized portal. There were many questions after the video and it was clear that there is high interest in using EarthCube if the initiative is able to deliver a user-friendly interface to integrate the many Earth-related disciplines.
As the eventual end-users of EarthCube, the young generation of students is enthusiastic about participating and helping shape the future that will become an indispensible tool for better science. EarthCube will be a valuable pathway to new interactions, discoveries, and explorations for inclusive Earth science research, teaching, and outreach.