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2017 GSA PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

Figure 2. Pew Research Center study (15 Feb. 2015) of the percent of
AAAS scientists who engage with the public. Those scientists who per-
ceive some to a lot of interest by the public in their field (dark blue boxes)
also engage more with the public than those who see less interest in their
scientific field (gold boxes).

engagement with our elected representa- imposed on complex science-based issues. increasing, in particular among younger
tives and decision makers, broadening of I argue that a fundamental contributor to scientists (Scientific American’s Board of
inter- and cross-disciplinary efforts, this problem is the lack of sufficient effec- Editors, 2018).
investing in the next generation of geosci- tive public engagement, including science
entists through more effective mentoring communication. There is much potential to The March for Science earlier this year
and better alignment between student resolve this problem. We see this potential was one of the first outpourings of support,
training and future industry trends, and manifest in Americans’ overall level of but it was a sedate affair. I participated in
greater infusion of geoscience into K–12 curiosity about science (81%)—a curiosity the March in Dublin, Ireland (Fig. 3A),
education (Zoback, 2001; Mosher, 2002; that is not matched by the amount of whereas many others participated in
Bahr, 2010; Geissman, 2012; Davis, 2013). desired information they receive (Pew marches in the USA and around the globe.
So why revisit this message now? Because Research Center, Sept. 2017). What we all recall are the folks on the side-
the “gap” is a persistent and detrimental lines encouraging us to shout more. Maybe
problem. The “Mind the Gap” in my title is We, as part of the scientific community, we should. Not in a partisan manner but
a play on words. In Ireland, where I was on are contributing to the gap. It turns out that figuratively in well-strategized ways that
sabbatical in April through July 2017, there geoscientists stand out well in this commu- capture the attention and persuade those
are signs in rail stations and trains caution- nity for recognizing the importance of outside of the scientific community of the
ing travelers to “mind the gap” between reaching out to the public. I define the pub- importance and relevance of what we do.
the railway and the platform. Irish trans- lic here as including the media and key Notably, a recent study shows that the pub-
portation authorities persistently warn peo- decision makers. But still, studies show lic’s support for such engagement efforts
ple to be mindful of this gap as it is often that relatively few among us regularly scales by age group (Fig. 3B; Pew
larger than one appreciates. engage with the public (Fig. 2; Pew Research Center, May 2017), a trend that
Research Center, 15 Feb. 2015). We tend to anecdotally is mirrored in the new genera-
We live in a historically significant shy away from such activities for fear of tion of geoscientists (Scientific American’s
time—one with new norms. We are mov- being misrepresented or politically Board of Editors, 2018).
ing away from a culture that values evi- branded. Some argue a lack of time or
dence-based decision-making to one that is skills to do so effectively or consider more Adding to the size of the gap is the fact
more accepting of actions that are than “dissemination of information” a that the scientific community has long
informed by “alternative-truths.” This is futile distraction from research (The Royal assumed that public apathy and disagree-
reflected in the confusion that fake news Society, 2006; Besley and Nisbet, 2011). ment with science is based on igno-
has created regarding Americans’ under- Consequently, only 31% of Americans rance—this is, the well-studied “informa-
standing of issues, including those that are believe scientists communicate effectively tion-deficit model” (Besley and Nisbet,
science-based (Pew Research Center, Dec. (Heagerty, 2015). This is despite their 2011; National Academies of Sciences,
2016). And so the gap expands as the interest in and respect for the importance Engineering, and Medicine, 2017). And
inherent uncertainty that we accept as part of scientific contributions to current envi- scientists further believe that the solution
of the scientific process is translated into ronmental, political, and social issues. to the problem is a flood of more data, at
cut-and-dried discussions. Or when overly Change, however, is on the horizon—the times with an unconscious bias to “dumb
simplistic, unsubstantiated claims are enthusiasm for public engagement is it down.” But studies repeatedly show that
this assumption is unsubstantiated and

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