Editorial - Geoscience

Hello Dear Reader, and welcome to our first special issue on ‘Geoscience’.

In this issue we explore all different facets of geoscience – from the plains to the climate crisis to the stars – through poetry and art to showcase the diversity within the field and its scientists.

As we proposed this special issue, we initially considered to only send out a call for poetry. We felt it was incomplete.

Geoscience encompasses the earth, the atmosphere, the planets circling around us, and all living things from beginning of time. It is a field that is seen and holistically experienced throughout one’s entire life.

The examination of an eye-catching rock while running through the park as a child.

Navigating flooded walkways during a rainstorm on your way to class.

Feeling the ground shake as waves course through the earth below your feet.

Witnessing that we are one planet among countless others, among stars, among galaxies, among the alluring unknown of darkness of space.

This special issue could not only be poetry. This is our first issue to feature both poems and art pieces via Consilience and ConciliARTe, and we are proud to continue to strengthen the relationship between science, art, and poetry. The cover art for this issue is a collection of the art we received and are featured in full within the ConciliARTe arm of our platform.

Geoscience holds a special place in the founding of Consilience. The founder and many of the Consilience team first explored science communication through poetry and art by exploring their own work in planetary and earth sciences. Here, we learned that one does not have to be only a scientist or only an artist – they can be both a scientist and artist. Our identities are rich and complex and should not be limited to only one passion.

This is a journey that we as individuals have not done alone. We thrive in our communities. We thrive with connection. We thrive with the support of those around us.

For this special issue, we joined with early career researchers within the American Geophysical Union community to facilitate this call and are grateful for their inspiration. We shared a public invitation for guest reviewers and editors from around the world to join on this issue. These collaborations have only strengthened this issue and has helped the Consilience and ConciliARTe team learn and grow.

We are excited to continue our journey to explore the intersection of art and science. We welcome any and all along with us – as a reader, as a poet, as an artist, as a scientist.

The Consilience and ConciliARTe Team