2019 Essay Contest Finalist

Entry by Amanda Von St. Paul

Unfortunately, earth science is not accessible to everyone. It should be open to all people because it has something for everyone. Increasing diversity in earth science would also bring new perspectives into the field, and it could allow for more new discoveries to be made about the history of our planet.

Some people think that earth science just includes geology. However, earth science is a very broad field. It encompasses many different sciences, including geology, meteorology, hydrology, astronomy, seismology, biology, anthropology, and geochemistry. All of these careers are different, and this allows for more people to find a job that they like within the broader category of earth science. All people can study what they want to in earth science.

Welcoming new people into the field of earth science would add new perspectives to the field. Right now, the category of earth science contains mostly one group of people, so the field most likely includes similar ideas and perspectives. Any new perspectives could bring new ideas and cultures into earth science. Adding new perspectives might also lead to new discoveries.

Everyone has unique ideas. College students will think and act differently than a middle-aged man. This could happen during an experiment or while researching. Certain people may notice specific details, while others might prefer the big picture. If they worked together, they could discover something amazing. New people joining the field of earth science might discover new things by thinking differently.

Everyone should be welcome in earth science. It has something that everyone can enjoy. Including new perspectives would mean that different cultures could learn more about this subject. Adding new perspectives could also lead to new discoveries. Scientists should reach out to educate people, especially schoolchildren, about earth science, so that earth science will be more diverse.