Our Mission
Creating bridges where there are none
At GeoLchat, our mission is to bridge the gap between society and geosciences by overcoming the barriers that inhibit engagement and accessibility to Earth Sciences. We recognize that issues such as climate change, the use of fossil fuels, natural hazards, and other geosciences-related topics profoundly impact lives worldwide. However, the lack of educational resources in Earth Sciences, particularly in Latin America and the United States, has contributed to low literacy in geosciences within society. Furthermore, the lack of access to geosciences topics in formal education curricula, combined with the dominance of English as the primary language for teaching and dissemination, creates additional barriers to equity and accessibility in Earth Science education.
Our mission is to promote equal access and opportunities to Earth Science knowledge while advocating for inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in the field of geosciences. Through our bilingual (English and Spanish) science communication project on social media, we aim to communicate and promote the work of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary scientists from around the world.
Specifically, we aim to:
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Raise awareness of geosciences and their connection to society within non-scientific communities.
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Enhance the visibility of scientific knowledge and literature produced beyond the global-north, with a particular focus on Earth Sciences.
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Promote the research and efforts of Latin-American geoscientists and science enthusiasts in the fields of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary sciences.
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Foster non-traditional and engaging learning experiences to demonstrate that science can be easily understood and enjoyable, moving away from its reputation of being inaccessible, boring, and complicated.
Our Work
To achieve our mission, we undertake the following initiatives:
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Translate scientific research and terminology into plain language, making scientific knowledge accessible to a wider audience in both English and Spanish.
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Facilitate collaborations between science communicators and scientists worldwide, acting as a bridge between the Global South and the Global North.
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Promote a geosciences learning culture by offering interactive educational experiences through text, multimedia (videos/images), interviews, and games.
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Establish bi-directional discussion spaces to cultivate a diverse community interested in geosciences and to support the work of other Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary scientists.
Through these efforts, we strive to promote equal access and opportunities to geoscientific knowledge, foster diversity and inclusion in the field of geosciences, and raise awareness of the vital connection between geosciences and society. We aim to transform the perception of geosciences where educational content is readily available, comprehensible, and appreciated by all.
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