EXPANDING CRITICAL ZONE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

In our increasingly technological world, as we come out of the COVID pandemic, and with the rapid advancement of climate change, communicating science has become a challenge, especially to younger audiences. It has become imperative, in light of all these fast changes, that we be creative and flexible to convey our science and science information to the public. From social media to unconventional museum collaborations to published children's books, the Critical Zone Network has been exploring innovative ways to communicate our science to the public. This presentation discusses several of the ways we have been advancing our science communication skills and strategies. Although the science can be slow, we use social media to to disseminate information about critical zone science to engage broadly. Some of our most successful communications have been in the form of scientific “tidbits” turned into infographics that can be made into paper and electronic handouts. We partnered with other regional scientists and the Museum of Boulder to create a special exhibit that highlighted local science. The temporary exhibit reached ~1100 visitors before COVID shut the exhibit down. Finally, in our most robust science communication project, Eric Parrish and Dr. Suzanne Anderson wrote and illustrated a nonfiction STEM picture book for ages 8-12 that introduces young readers to critical zone science. Combining realistic illustrations with informational text, The Living Landscape: Discover the Critical Zone immerses young readers in the important interconnections of the critical zone from the tops of the trees to the bedrock.