12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
[G01-12] Value of local activities in outreach of earth and planetary sciences in the age of the mass media
Keywords:outreach, mass media, field excursion, summer camp, personal experience
Established by the leadership of the American Geophysical Union in 2021, Global Geoscience Societies (GGS) now involves eleven organization in various countries across the world and Japan Geoscience Union is an inauguration member. GGS has four task teams (TTs) and one of them is working for ‘Public Engagement and Outreach to increase ESS awareness (Outreach-TT)’. One of the outcomes from the Outreach-TT has been publication of joint statements among the member organizations for Earth Day, which celebrate and highlight the importance of our planet and the conservation of its ecosystems on all continents and oceans annually in late April.
Outreach activities targeting a massive impact through large-scale, powerful events are an efficient way of encouraging public engagement on the environment and increasing awareness of earth science. On the other hand, it should be fair to say that smaller-scale, face-to-face local events are also an effective way of encouraging public engagement. This fair statement nonetheless requires a review and justification in the context why efforts that seem to have less impacts are still important and encouraged in outreach activities.
Based on experiences of organizing field excursion of local geology and geomorphology for local community (Furuichi 2021) and participating in a summer camp of STEM education for high school students (Furuichi et al. 2023), this commentary aims to clarify the purpose of outreach, present an idea to locate the meaning of local outreach activities in a global context, and discuss perspectives to seek extended impact of local outreach activities in a larger framework, such as the Outreach-TT of the GGS.
This contribution has been motivated by the convenors’ message to explore the direction of outreach in geoscience from a JpGU’s perspective towards JpGU-AGU 2026.
Reference
- Furuichi T (2021): Geomorphology and geology of the Aobayama Hills observed in the Aobayama Forest Park, Sendai City. Research Bulletin of Environmental Education Center, Miyagi University of Education 23, 57-68.
- Furuichi T, Amano, A, Ogawa Y, Moriya K, Fujimitsu Y, Nagumo N, Oguchi C, Konya K, Song W (2023): The miracle Planet Earth: Introduction of Earth and Planetary Science to support female high school students in STEM career paths by JpGU. Abstract JpGU2023, O02-P02.
Outreach activities targeting a massive impact through large-scale, powerful events are an efficient way of encouraging public engagement on the environment and increasing awareness of earth science. On the other hand, it should be fair to say that smaller-scale, face-to-face local events are also an effective way of encouraging public engagement. This fair statement nonetheless requires a review and justification in the context why efforts that seem to have less impacts are still important and encouraged in outreach activities.
Based on experiences of organizing field excursion of local geology and geomorphology for local community (Furuichi 2021) and participating in a summer camp of STEM education for high school students (Furuichi et al. 2023), this commentary aims to clarify the purpose of outreach, present an idea to locate the meaning of local outreach activities in a global context, and discuss perspectives to seek extended impact of local outreach activities in a larger framework, such as the Outreach-TT of the GGS.
This contribution has been motivated by the convenors’ message to explore the direction of outreach in geoscience from a JpGU’s perspective towards JpGU-AGU 2026.
Reference
- Furuichi T (2021): Geomorphology and geology of the Aobayama Hills observed in the Aobayama Forest Park, Sendai City. Research Bulletin of Environmental Education Center, Miyagi University of Education 23, 57-68.
- Furuichi T, Amano, A, Ogawa Y, Moriya K, Fujimitsu Y, Nagumo N, Oguchi C, Konya K, Song W (2023): The miracle Planet Earth: Introduction of Earth and Planetary Science to support female high school students in STEM career paths by JpGU. Abstract JpGU2023, O02-P02.