CHANGING THE CONVERSATION IN THE GEOSCIENCES: ENGAGING FRIENDS AND ALUMNI TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF GEOSCIENTISTS, AKA BE A GEO

How we communicate the career opportunities in the geosciences will determine our success in interesting students in careers in the geosciences. Many high school students are unaware of the careers available in the geosciences and the societal impact of work done by geoscientists. Underrepresented populations in STEM are interested in careers that allow their work to benefit society. Parents are interested in careers for their sons and daughters that provide generous compensation. Careers in the earth sciences address the desire of STEM underrepresented students and parents, as the geosciences will be key in addressing future challenges to the planet while the number of geoscientists retiring outpaces the number of geoscience degrees earned.

Adopting recommendations from the National Academy of Engineering’s Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving the Public Understanding of Engineering, The Friends and Alumni Network (FANs) alumni board of the Jackson School of Geosciences developed an outreach campaign, Earth is Calling, to inspire the next generation of geoscientists. This multimedia grassroots program is designed to reach high school students who are considering their future academic career and have expressed an interest or aptitude for STEM. Earth is Calling is designed to allow friends and alumni of the geosciences to change the conversation and engage students in the classroom in dialogue about the geosciences as a professional career.