By Charles Igomu, 2023 Science Communication Intern 

To cultivate greater public support for science and to maximize the benefits that everyone can derive from scientific advancements, it is important to make current scientific research accessible for nontechnical audiences. This was a key theme explored during our interview with Jason Curtis Droboth, an enthusiastic graduate science communications researcher from the University of Calgary, Canada, at the 2023 GSA Connects meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Droboth’s story is one of curiosity and exploration. Though always drawn to scientific ideas, he was raised in a strictly religious environment that upheld views which regularly conflicted with his interest in and exploration of more widely accepted scientific concepts. For example, he first learned about the Great Flood described in the Bible as an actual, historical event, but he now considers this to be a myth. Such incongruities between his childhood environment and his keen interest in scientific research ultimately paved the way for Droboth’s departure from his religious life and venture into the field of geology.

Informed by a personal journey that included being excommunicated by his immediate religious community, Droboth emphasizes the need for compassionate science communication. His goal is to bridge the gap between technical and nontechnical audiences by approaching scientific communication with a deep empathy and respect for all audiences.

Droboth highlights a common pitfall in science communication—adopting a condescending tone when engaging with differing viewpoints. Instead, he advocates for a more empathetic approach, encouraging scientists to view their ideas from the perspective of their audience. He asks us to consider how our audiences’ beliefs may be serving, not just harming, them. When interviewed, Droboth shared that his eventual acceptance of scientific pillars like evolution and a 4.6-billion-year Earth, for example, cost him his immediate family and larger community. If all our audience members were to accept and uphold scientific consensus on many issues, would that result in the personal loss of something or someone they hold dear? Communicators need to be sensitive to such possibilities, which were Droboth’s reality.

Currently pursuing his M.Sc. and gearing up for a Ph.D., Droboth’s research delves into the power of metaphor in geoscience communication. His work revolves around encouraging geoscientists to critically assess their language use and to recognize the importance of metaphor as a tool for effective communication. Metaphors, he argues, play a central role in learning, allowing individuals to create concepts by pulling ideas from existing frameworks. In his research, Dobroth advocates for nuanced use of metaphors and acknowledges that no single metaphor can fully encompass the complexity of Earth, emphasizing that different metaphors speak to different aspects of our dynamic planet.

As Droboth completes his M.Sc., he aspires to build a career in science communication. His unique journey, pursuing a career that emphasizes science and leaving behind a childhood in conflict with his path forward, serves as a testament to the transformative power of curiosity and empathy in navigating the geological landscape. Dobroth’s inspiration to pursue science came mainly from his early exposure to watching wildlife documentaries and his deep curiosity for finding a scientific explanation for the biblical flooding event. Having paid a great price through the loss of many vital relationships due to his embrace of science, he has developed compassion and empathy that comes through in his communications with all audiences, especially those who might be skeptical of certain sciences. In a world where science and society intersect, Droboth stands at the forefront, advocating for a more inclusive and compassionate dialogue that bridges the gap between diverse perspectives. Utilizing empathy, compassion, and metaphor may indeed be a strong path forward to making scientific findings on many currently controversial issues, such as climate change, carbon sequestration, or tidal energy, accessible to all audiences.

The GSA Science Communication Internship was a program offered at GSA Connects in Pittsburgh, Penn., designed for student attendees interested in science communication as a possible alternative career path.  Interns were paired with GSA’s Science Communication Fellow in order to gain experience in making science clear and exciting, under the tutelage of a professional writer.  Students were assigned to conduct interviews with presenters at the meeting and to compile summaries capturing the significance of the presenters’ work for a nontechnical audience.  Media assignments and mentoring were useful learning experiences and exposure opportunities for students seeking to expand their knowledge into geoscientific reporting.