Taxonomy term

Voices

Geoethics in the Field: Leading by Example

Geoscience fieldwork is very visible to the public, and can have lasting impacts on the environment, so it is important that geoscientists integrate ethical principles into our field practices — and impart them to our students.

03 Apr 2019

Geologic Column: Newspeak for kids

To make room for words from the brave new digital world, the editors of children’s dictionaries are culling words that describe the natural world. But if kids can’t put names to nature, how will they learn to love it enough to fight for its future?

13 Mar 2019

Comment: After a disaster, should you gamble on returning? Paradise edition

Not much remains of Paradise, Calif., after the fast-moving and deadly Camp Fire scorched the area in November 2018. Today, the town is essentially gone, but the inevitable question remains: Should people rebuild in locations prone to such hazards?

06 Mar 2019

Geologic Column: Is this land really your land?

In 1940, Woody Guthrie wrote the iconic folk song, “This Land Is Your Land,” as a commentary on inequality. Where do we stand today, and who really owns the land in America?

13 Feb 2019

Comment: Faster flood forecasting to improve responses

High-resolution weather models can generate very accurate forecasts, but they take time to run — time that may be needed to safely respond to a rapidly unfolding weather disaster. The authors examine the tradeoffs between accuracy and timeliness in flood forecasting.

06 Feb 2019

Geologic Column: Muinntir a' ghlinne so

The author examines the idea of lament — for humanity, Earth and the universe — through the lens of the “pibroch,” a Gaelic word meaning a Scottish bagpiper’s variations on a musical theme, and the title of a Ted Hughes poem.

18 Jan 2019

Comment: How to tell a good science story

Everyone has a story to tell, including scientists who make discoveries and solve mysteries about the world we live in. What better way to convey that science is relevant and exciting than by telling a good story?
08 Jan 2019

Our top tips for adding storytelling to your repertoire

(from Green et al., Facets, February 2018)

  • Identify your take-home message first. Start with the end in mind.
  • Remember the shape of your story. Tracking the main character’s fortune over time moves the story forward.
  • Consider the scale and timing of your story. Cut irrelevant background, processes and methods if they don’t move the story forward in a compelling way.
  • Use vivid language. Help the reader feel like he or she is there.
  • Get feedback. Pause. Reflect. Try again. Find someone you trust to give you constructive, supportive criticism.
  • Embrace discomfort and transformation. Practice makes perfect.
08 Jan 2019

Comment: National Geological Surveys: The past, present and future

The oldest national geological survey (Britain’s) is 183 years old; the youngest (China’s) is 19. Yet all the surveys share commonalities. A symposium last June in Vancouver, British Columbia, examined where surveys have been and where they’re going.

06 Dec 2018

Comment: Learning "Minecraft" as a forty-something proves the game can be an educational tool for all ages

When an energy researcher’s work becomes the basis for a “Minecraft Education” module, he decides to learn to play the popular video game, and turns to an expert, his 12-yearold son, for lessons. 
06 Dec 2018

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