THE ROLE OF GEOSCIENCE COMMUNICATION: MITIGATING THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF GEOLOGIC CRISES

At the height of the 2019-2020 Puerto Rico seismic sequence, The Geology Project (TGP), a Spanish-English bilingual science communication group, produced relevant videos, social media posts, and provided in-person talks to communities on the island. TGP, and other local science communicators, played a key role in disseminating accessible information and dispelling misinformation in support of official research entities (e.g., Puerto Rico Seismic Network) and experts in the field. Where The Geology Project and other science communicators excelled was in the use of place- and culture-based knowledge to help the public better understand the information presented by official sources. We discuss the importance of science communication in times of geologically-related crises, focusing on the aggregate effect of numerous local scientists communicating informally with the public, and highlighting the importance of identity, local knowledge, and the sense of connection they foster between science communicators and the public.