What is geoscience? With only two states requiring an earth or environmental science course to graduate high school, most people either don’t know or think it’s just about rocks. “How can we, as a field, communicate what we do better—or more effectively—to reach out to communities that are often overlooked?” asks Dr. Shelby Rader, an assistant professor in earth and atmospheric sciences at Indiana University (IU). This question inspired her to start Earth on the Rocks, a podcast that features Rader and a new geoscience guest each episode. “Most folks in the field are genuinely passionate about what they do, and they do it because they love it,” she says. “Once you start to talk to them about what they’re doing, it’s just contagious!”
Now, don’t expect dense research discussions in this podcast! “So much of what is interesting or entertaining about geoscience is the diversity of work that happens, and the diversity of personalities that are in it,” according to Rader, so the episodes feature casual conversations that bring out the human side of geoscience. While geoscience can seem like a limited field, it is incredibly broad and integrates biology, chemistry, physics, and social sciences to better understand all aspects of Earth. This attracts people from a multitude of backgrounds, each discovering the field in a different way. The podcast highlights this by focusing on each geoscientist’s journey and what they are passionate about, both personally and scientifically.
Rader’s goal for this podcast is to increase public understanding and interest in the field, especially among high school and early college students. Undergraduate enrollment in geoscience-based degrees has been on a continual decline due, in part, to a lack of exposure to geosciences. Over 60% of students pursuing geosciences chose their major during college, often after taking introductory courses that meet general education requirements. However, for some students, this introduction may be too late.
“We will often get undergraduate students who take a class in their second or third year and they say, ‘I really wish I had known about geosciences before because I would have majored in it,’ but they are so late in their current degree progress that they minor instead,” says Rader. Her college experience was similar; she notes, “Geosciences were never something that I thought about as a career until I randomly took a class as an undergraduate and fell in love with it.” She hopes that through this podcast, people will hear something they never would have associated with geoscience and gain inspiration to learn more about the field and its opportunities.
Another contributing factor to lower enrollment is the lack of diversity in the geosciences, which have historically been dominated by white men. While the ratio of men and women in these fields is becoming more equitable, there are still significant socioeconomic and racial disparities. Looking back on her own experiences growing up in rural Kentucky, Rader aims to bridge the gap between different populations that may not see themselves represented. “Anybody can be a scientist,” she says. “It isn’t limited to people who have some sort of academic lineage, it’s something anyone can pursue.” She continues, “It’s really useful to show them that this is something that you can do. The pathways to get there might look different for different people, but here are some examples of what that’s been like.” By focusing on who these scientists are—from their experiences to their personal hobbies and interests—the podcast provides an avenue for listeners to feel connected to the field. These forged connections are key to making geosciences more accessible, and since each episode is completely unique, every listener can find a story they resonate with.
Earth on the Rocks currently has eight episodes, with eight more scheduled to be released this spring. A palpable sense of excitement from the guests is present in every episode, serving as a testament to their love of the field. This is one of Rader’s favorite parts about the podcast. “It has just been a lot of fun to talk with friends and colleagues about the stuff that they’re doing, how much they care about it,” she says, “and how they’re bringing folks, especially students, into that work.” So far, the guests have been geoscience faculty at IU because the podcast is recorded through the media school’s facilities. However, Rader hopes to grow the podcast and feature other academic and industry geoscientists, because “what we [geoscientists] are trained in is so applicable to different jobs and industries, so I think it’s important to highlight those equally.” She also wants to start featuring graduate students, because they are the future of the field and have recently been in similar situations to younger listeners.
While student engagement was a motivator to start, the podcast is for anyone that wants to hear some cool stuff geoscientists do. “You don’t need a science background to hopefully be entertained by it,” says Rader. The episodes are less than an hour long and can be a perfect way to make a commute or chores more enjoyable. From the stories to the “Yes, please” segment—where the host and guest get one minute to talk about anything they’re personally excited about—this is genuinely a fun podcast for all! While Rader jokes that “[her] mom is an avid listener and probably our number one fan,” this highlights how the podcast is great resource for geoscientists wanting to share what the field is like to family and friends. Whether you’re a student looking for career options or a person just looking to broaden their horizons, this podcast is for you!
Episode Guide
- Want to hear fun field adventures in South America or need a good nail polish recommendation? Try Stuck between a rock and a sledge hammer – with Dr. Andrea Stevens Goddard
- College sports and weather intersect in Here comes the rain again (get on the porch!) – with Dr. Cody Kirkpatrick
- Interested in foreign languages, earthquakes, or rowing? Try From Russia with love (of rocks and hazards) – with Dr. Michael Hamburger
- Learn about human origins and get a great Tanzanian recipe from a local in Insane in the big brain, insane in the brain – with Dr. Jackson Njau
- Brandon Sanderson fan? You’ll be in good company with the climate scientist in Super(computer climate)model – with Dr. Travis O’Brien
- For beer brewing, archeology, and connecting with communities, check out To be(er) or not to be(er) – with Dr. Ed Herrmann
- Are laboratories and ice sports more your scene? Try The Lab Rat Pack – with Dr. Julia Kelson
- Hear how a college football star got into mountains, rivers, and drones in A river runs through it (and quickly aggrades) – with Dr. Brian Yanites
If there are there any specific topics you want to hear, or if you have any feedback on the podcast, contact Dr. Rader at shtrader@iu.edu. Happy listening!
