Mike Hochella’s career as a teacher, a researcher, and a leader has set a shining example of the transformative power of a geosciences education. He and his students contribute to areas well beyond geology, such as soil science, physics, (micro)biology, surface science, materials science, nanotechnology, chemistry, civil and environmental engineering, and the health sciences. We geoscientists even have decades of microscopic images and other forms of ‘big data’ that represent a treasure trove for computer scientists pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and machine learning. In a world where lack of understanding and support for the sciences can be nothing short of deadly, it has never been more important to develop engaging model geosciences courses to provide every undergraduate with key life skills.  A great geology course for non-geologists can teach students how to scientifically diagnose a problem (mineral identification), how to read a map, how to formulate an hypothesis, and how to measure, graph, and interpret environmental properties like pH. No one is better prepared than a geoscientist to teach what we might call Basic Life Skills for Earthlings. The time is ripe to seize the initiative, as Mike has done so often throughout his career, to share the transformative power of a geosciences education with students and communities everywhere. In addition to highlighting the diverse and exemplary work of Mike Hochella and his group, this talk will describe new ideas for unleashing the transformative power of a geosciences education.

Michael Hochella and the transformative power of a geosciences education

ACS Fall 2021

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