Geological Society of America

T139 The 2019–2020 Southwestern Puerto Rico Earthquake Sequence and the Intersection between Geoscience Research, Education, and Communication

Wednesday, 28 October 2020
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Meeting Rooms

THE ROLE OF GEOSCIENCE COMMUNICATION: MITIGATING THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF GEOLOGIC CRISES

Paper number: T139-9
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 3:20 PM – 3:35 PM

Authors

Leila Joyce Presenting Author
Lawrence, KS
Bryan Rodriguez-Colon
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Irmarís Rivera-Llavona
EcoExploratorio: museo de ciencias de Puerto Rico, Guaynabo, PR
Andreana Madera-Martorell
Ohio University, Athens, OH
Pedro Matos-Llavona
Amherst, MA
James Joyce
University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR

Abstract

At the height of the 2019-2020 Puerto Rico seismic sequence, The Geology Project (TGP), a Spanish-English bilingual science communication group, produced relevant videos, social media posts, and provided in-person talks to communities on the island. TGP, and other local science communicators, played a key role in disseminating accessible information and dispelling misinformation in support of official research entities (e.g., Puerto Rico Seismic Network) and experts in the field. Where The Geology Project and other science communicators excelled was in the use of place- and culture-based knowledge to help the public better understand the information presented by official sources. We discuss the importance of science communication in times of geologically-related crises, focusing on the aggregate effect of numerous local scientists communicating informally with the public, and highlighting the importance of identity, local knowledge, and the sense of connection they foster between science communicators and the public.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 52, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2020AM-354136

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