Quantum Topology Change in (2 + 1)d

The topology of orientable (2 + 1)d spacetimes can be captured by certain lumps of non-trivial topology called topological geons. They are the topological analogues of conventional solitons. We give a description of topological geons where the degrees of freedom related to topology are separated from the complete theory that contains metric (dynamical) degrees of freedom. The formalism also allows us to investigate processes of quantum topology change. They correspond to creation and annihilation of quantum geons. Selection rules for such processes are derived.Comment: LaTeX file, 33 pages, 10 postscript figures, some typos corrected, references updated, and other minor change

Science communication in UNESCO global geoparks

Research in science communication has brought many contributions to improving society's relationship with science, unfortunately very little incorporated in geoscience communication. Science communication and public engagement are among the main priorities of UNESCO Global Geoparks, privileged territories for science, culture, education, and sustainable development. Geological heritage of international relevance, integrated strategies for geodiversity, together with geoscientific research and geoconservation make UGGps ideal arenas for effective geoscience communication. Today 197 UGGps in 48 countries are developing tremendous endeavours to bring society closer to science, being a reference for the communication of geosciences on a global scale. In this sense, we start to study these contexts, conducting a comprehensive analysis on science communication practices in UGGps, including literature review and documentation analysis. This stage has already revealed a great variety of strategies, tools, approaches and terminology, which allowed the identification of theoretical communication models and paradigms. Besides it was also possible to recognize the diversity of terminology and different understandings or scopes referring to science comunicação. In a second phase, a benchmarking methodology is being conducted to strategically analyse best practices in selected Geoparks. The data collection includes site visits, direct observation and interviews applying specific data collection instruments for qualitative analysis. This more refined analysis of the territories is finding relevant strategies and solutions, regarding situ interpretation, hands on modules, films, digital and augmented reality tools, targeted communication, and storylines, among many others. This study is part of a larger project that included the identification and discussion of the main challenges on geoscience communication (Rodrigues et al 2023a) and the study of the representations and practices of geoscientists (Rodrigues et al 2023b). Previous and new results will be integrated in order to develop a strategy to promote, stimulate and improve geoscience communication, addressing the identified challenges and meeting the specific segmented needs. Although the strategy to be developed fits into the specific context of Geoparks, we think that this kind of strategy, currently non-existent even in other areas, could contribute as a reference for the promotion of geosciences and the sustainability of planet Earth on a global level, and could be used as a parameter in UGGps, but also in other contexts

How can geoscience communication foster public engagement with geoconservation?

Geoscience and geodiversity, two sides of the same coin, deal with very poor social visibility and recognition. Ensuring the protection of geodiversity is not only in the geoscientists’ hands and all of society needs to be involved. Therefore, public engagement with geodiversity demands new solutions and a change of paradigm in geoscience communication. Most of the science communication activities undertaken by geoscientists, even when they use modern approaches and technologies, are mainly designed based on empirical experience, laid on didactical approaches and assuming the public’s knowledge deficit. In order to engage the society with geodiversity, it is not enough to focus on scientific literacy and deficit models in which lack of knowledge is considered to be the main obstacle between science and society. It is fundamental to establish a commitment between society and science based on dialogue where lay public is not seen anymore as a single entity with a knowledge deficit. Non-experts must become also protagonists in scientific decisions with social impact and integrate their knowledge and concerns in public participation and decision-making. Engagement with geoscience and geodiversity would benefit from more effective and targeted communication strategies, with different approaches to engage with com- munities, local stakeholders, media, students and teachers, scientific community, tourists, politicians or policy-makers, and groups with different concerns and distinct relations with science. In the last 20 years, science communication research has made many relevant contributions in order to promote more participatory processes with which society is asked to engage. Regarding geoscience communication as a discipline, it is a very recent Earth science branch that also incorporates social science, behavioral science, and science communication, but still lacks a clear and formal definition. This study provides a comprehensive review of the literature in order to develop a conceptual framework for geoscience communication research, identifying the main challenges and opportunities.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) - projects UIDB/04683/2020 and UIDP/04683/2020

A novel notion of null infinity for c-boundaries and generalized black holes

We give new definitions of null infinity and black hole in terms of causal boundaries, applicable to any strongly causal spacetime $(M,g)$. These are meant to extend the standard ones given in terms of conformal boundaries, and use the new definitions to prove a classic result in black hole theory for this more general context: if the null infinity is regular (i.e. well behaved in a suitable sense) and $(M,g)$ obeys the null convergence condition, then any closed trapped surface in $(M,g)$ has to be inside the black hole region. As an illustration of this general construction, we apply it to the class of generalized plane waves, where the conformal null infinity is not always well-defined. In particular, it is shown that (generalized) black hole regions do not exist in a large family of these spacetimes.Comment: 32 pages, 4 figures. Included new referenc