Civilization-Saving Science for the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Geoscientists have generally been at the leading edge of predicting the challenges society faces from hazards both natural and anthropomorphic. As geoscientists, we have been less successful in devising the solutions to those problems to ensure a habitable planet for ourselves and future generations because often the solutions lie in creating novel partnerships with other researchers, including engineers, biologists, and social scientists. These sorts of transdisciplinary partnerships have been leading to radical advances in human health, under the banner of convergence science. Application of these principles of convergence science offers significant promise for addressing challenges such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental health, protecting ecosystem services, and advancing sustainability science. To apply this approach rigorously, however, will involve a culture change in the geosciences in terms of how students are educated, how researchers are rewarded, and how projects are funded. ▪ Geoscientists need to work collaboratively with life, physical, and social scientists, as well as engineers, to solve the problems of our time. ▪ Universities need to address financial, procedural, educational, and cultural impediments to the conduct of convergence research. ▪ Adopting a solutions orientation to major environmental issues could help attract a more diverse geoscience workforce. ▪ Climate change mitigation would benefit from partnerships between geoscientists and social scientists to make the right behavior easy. ▪ The current course of Earth science education, research, and partnerships is inadequate to address sustainability. ▪ Ensuring environmental health requires collaboration between experts in health, environment, infrastructure, and economics. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Volume 50 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.