GeoTraductores: A Collaborative Initiative Democratizing Science Communication in Latin America

Abstract

GeoTraductores is an collaborative initiative between Eos, Planeteando, andGeoLatinas that aims to provide Spanish-speaking communities access to current scientific findings. This goal is accomplished by translating science articles originally published in English on AGU's Eos.org, within their Science News magazine, into Spanish. This cross-organizational initiative has translated, edited, and published over 150 articles, breaking the language barrier for Spanish-speaking communities. Our experience since 2020 has allowed us to tailor an efficient co-production model, which starts with (a) the selection of articles of interest to translate, followed by (b) the translation, reviewing, and editing process by volunteers, and (c) the publication and social media dissemination of the translated article. The tangible impact of GeoTraductores is evident in the substantial surge of visitor traffic to the Eos website between 2020 and 2023, particularly from Latin American countries. Notably, increases exceeding 85% were observed in Colombia, Mexico, and Panama, with 20% or greater growth in Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, and Ecuador, confirming the initiative's success in meeting a genuine need. This impact extends globally, with Spain experiencing a 40% increase in visitors. Our co-production model is possible thanks to the contribution of around 40 GeoTraductores, mainly women (85%), who are native Spanish speakers or bilingual (Spanish and English speaking). These early-career scientists, through their volunteer work, enhance their bilingual communication skills while breaking down language barriers in science communication. The Eos-Planeteando-GeoLatinas co-production model fosters science democratization for Latin America while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in Earth Sciences, one translation at a time.