Editorial:the shadowlands of science communication in academia — definitions, problems, and possible solutions

Science communication is an important part of research, including in the geosciences, as it can benefit society, science, and make science more publicly accountable. However, much of this work takes place in “shadowlands” that are neither fully seen nor understood. These shadowlands are spaces, aspects, and practices of science communication which are not clearly defined and may be harmful with respect to the science being communicated or for the science communicators themselves. With the increasing expectation in academia that researchers should participate in science communication, there is a need to address some of the major issues that lurk in these shadowlands. Here the editorial team of Geoscience Communication seeks to shine a light on the shadowlands of geoscience communication and suggest some solutions and examples of effective practice. The issues broadly fall under three categories: 1) harmful or unclear objectives; 2) poor quality and lack of rigor; and 3) exploitation of science communicators working within academia. Ameliorating these will require: 1) clarifying objectives and audiences; 2) adequately training science communicators; and 3) giving science communication equivalent recognition to other professional activities. By shining a light on the shadowlands of science communication in academia and proposing potential remedies, our aim is to cultivate a more transparent and responsible landscape for geoscience communication—a transformation that will ultimately benefit the progress of science, the welfare of scientists, and more broadly society at large

Documentation of a public communication project by German-speaking scientists prior to the September 2021 climate demonstrations

English: Documentation of a communication project by German-speaking scientists encouraging their peers to participate in the September 2021 climate demonstrations by means of short statements or appeals (German, with English and French translations).Deutsch: Dokumentation eines Kommunikationsprojekts deutschsprachiger Wissenschaftler:innen, ihre Kolleg:innen mit kurzen Statements oder Aufrufen zur Teilnahme an den Klimademonstrationen im September 2021 zu ermuntern (deutsch, mit englischer und französischer Übersetzung).Français: Documentation d'un projet de communication de scientifiques germanophones visant à encourager leurs collègues à participer aux manifestations pour le climat en septembre 2021 par de courtes déclarations ou des appels (en allemand, avec traduction en anglais et en français)

Geoscience Communication-Building bridges, not walls

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Geoscience in a time of pandemics

We, the Executive Editors at Geoscience Communication, sincerely hope that this message finds you and your loved ones in good health. We are in the midst of yet another global health crisis, the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). This affects all of us, and we truly hope that you are remaining safe and taking all necessary precautions. We all are facing difficult times ahead, and we hope that we can all together find the strength and courage within to do our best.</p