The Earth and space sciences, like many STEM fields, have long been dominated by a narrow vision of who belongs. But the tide is turning. A 2023 workplace climate survey of Earth and space scientists highlights both the persistent barriers queer and other historically excluded scientists face and the urgent need for cultural shifts within the discipline. The data is clear: the geosciences must now ...[Read More]
From ‘real life’ to a fantastic quirky teaching tool – try a PodCast Class
A giant microphone sits a few cm’s from my face. I am having vivid flashbacks to pre-show jitters and stage-fright from my earlier forages into on stage productions. Only now I’m an adult, an expert, a scientist. Our host pushes the record button. Live radio! A brilliant (?) idea takes shape I was contacted by a Norwegian scientific radio programme, Abels Tårn, and asked if I could answer question ...[Read More]
Holding it in (the learning, not the pee) – The gendered importance of toilet breaks for geoscience students during field-courses
Field-based teaching is a cornerstone of geoscience education. Concepts such as scale, complexity, spatial awareness, 3D geometries, methods, skills, and techniques are inherently difficult to teach from a lecture theatre. However, achieving the benefits of field-based teaching might require a learning module not always considered as a prerequisite: planning and providing information about bathroo ...[Read More]
Moving the needle: Celebrating progress as a Black woman geoscientist in the UK
Ever since I was eight and fascinated by how rocks were formed, I dreamed of being a geoscientist. Growing up in Nigeria, I was captivated by rocks as nature’s storytellers—from how rivers shaped our landscapes to how oil could be extracted from deep beneath the Earth. This passion fueled my ambition to become a geoscientist as I pursued my bachelor’s, master’s, and eventually my ...[Read More]