CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN OUR CLASSES, PROGRAMS, AND OUTREACH PRACTICES: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORTING SCIENCE LITERACY AND OUR WORKFORCE

We surveyed geoscience faculty to assess current civic practices in geoscience programs, courses, and engagement. The majority (77%) of 263 faculty reported that program learning goals specifically included societal relevance. Most faculty also reported that their programs included at least three societally relevant issues within their program. The top three chosen science society issues covered in their programs were climate change (67%), water quality and quantity (59%), and natural hazards (51%). These top three earth issues are also central to urban resilience planning (i.e. distinct from other earth issues such as soil management, energy, and mineral resources). Other results from the civic survey suggest that we fall short in providing our geoscience students with the training needed to support and learn from the communities they work. While 74% of geoscience faculty reported teaching global issues, only 43% reported teaching at the local level. Students also received varied support in understanding perspectives surrounding these issues. For example, less than half of all faculty incorporate underrepresented or marginalized perspectives on societally relevant earth science issues. Geoscience faculty are also better at collaborating with scientists from other disciplines (76%), sharing science to public and K-12 audiences (61%), engaging via social media (44%), than they are at engaging with local-to-national policymakers (<25%) or supporting local-to-national decision making (<30%). As resilience workforce needs grow, we must support future geoscientists from all cultures, classes, genders, and races in order for more positive and just urban transformation. Meeting these goals require the building of supportive, equitable, and engaging relationships and opportunities in our classes, programs, societies and communities. Resilience problem solving requires both the skills and habits of earth exploration and civic engagement.