Some might argue that to be human is to be curious. For as long as people have walked the planet, we have tried to explain what we see. From creation myths that explain landforms to technology enabling us to visualize the edges of the universe, we have endeavored to understand our surroundings for millennia. But in the science classroom, it can be a different story. As geoscience educators, our students often confront us with the same challenge: Why should I care? What does this have to do with me? Especially in urban settings, where connections to the natural world are less obvious, many students struggle to find relevance between the curriculum and their own lives and interests.

This is particularly true of the International Ocean Discovery Program, which drills into the ocean floor to answer big questions about Earth, including: Why has climate changed in the past, and how will it change in the future? What causes natural hazards like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and how can we mitigate the effects of future disasters? Where did life begin, and under what extreme environments can it continue to flourish? What does this tell us about the possibility of life on other planets? So much of the Earth Science curriculum is based on what researchers have learned from subseafloor samples of sediment and rock, yet the methods behind this work remain relatively obscure in our schools.

This presentation will describe a multi-pronged approach that has been successful in authentically engaging students in scientific ocean drilling research, with the overall goal of making science accessible to diverse student populations and helping all learners develop a scientist identity. Live ship-to-shore video broadcasts allow students to tour research vessels and speak to shipboard researchers and crewmembers in real time. Spotlight articles and videos showcase the varied backgrounds of scientists so that students can see themselves represented in the community. Free educational resources immerse students in the same research that is conducted at sea and in labs, so that they gain the skills necessary to pursue a career in science. These strategies can be replicated at different scales to create a welcoming and exciting environment for future geoscientists.