250 Deliver the Message: Harness Diverse Media and Divergent Methods to Describe and Depict Geoscience Information
A wide-ranging mix of presentations providing thought-provoking ways to communicate geoscience information using diverse media (written, audio, video) and divergent methods (paper, digital) to encourage and engage varied (scientific to non-scientific, neurotypical to neurodivergent) communities.
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
HBGCC, 302B
The Art of Immersion through Scientifically Realistic World-Building
Paper number: 250-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:25 AM – 8:40 AM
Authors
Abstract
The trick to making an immersive setting within a made-up world is real, concrete details. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing about an ancient volcanic kingdom of darkness or a desert planet in a galaxy far far away. As a traditionally-published fantasy author, I’ve seen firsthand the power of relying upon geologic knowledge when crafting fantastical landscapes. Using examples from my published duology, Daughter of the Bone Forest and Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom, alongside other well-known fantasy and science-fiction novels, I will discuss the ways in which geology, geography, and geoheritage can be used to brainstorm fantastical settings and enhance them. This combination of science and the arts is a vital tool for science communication and public education, as story and oral heritage have been tools of education since the early days of civilization. By learning to harness this tradition, we can begin to fix misinformation, alter public opinion, and educate through entertainment. Whether we choose to educate about some of the biggest and most pressing concerns in the geoscience community, or simply use our knowledge to create immersive worlds that can better capture readers interest, the tools of the trade are valuable.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6
doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-414337
© Copyright 2025 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.