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Greetings GeoEd-Research Network Members, I hope this message finds you and yours in good health. I am writing to invite you to submit an abstract for my GSA 2023 session: T37. “G-IRL: Collaborations and Conversations on Practicing Geoscience and In-Real-Life Applications for Dismantling Scientific Siloes”. This session aims to create an example of an inclusive science communication space for a broad spectrum of geoscientists and non-geoscientists who are interested in discussing how science, academia, and/or geoscience culture has played a role in real life, “IRL”. My co-chairs and I would be honored to have you speak during our session. We are particularly interested in highlighting and celebrating the current participants and alumni of the On to the Future Program, as this year marks a special anniversary for the program. Please also note that GSA 2023 will be held in person this year, in Pittsburg, PA. I have included more information about our session below. On behalf of the session chairs, Akilah Alwan Graduate Research Fellow, Auburn University - - - Title: G-IRL: Collaborations and Conversations on Practicing Geoscience and In-Real-Life Applications for Dismantling Scientific Siloes Abstract: This session will answer calls for more authentic collaborations between geoscientists and historically marginalized communities, focusing on contributions from students, early career professionals, and On To the Future alumni. Scientific Categories: Geoscience education Geoscience information/communication Geoscience and public policy Session Rationale: Ongoing large-scale, collective efforts to diversify the geoscience community are bringing attention to the normalized aspects of geoscience culture that may be perceived negatively by Geoscientists of Color and that contribute to the exit of diverse people from geoscience spaces (AGU, 2022; Cooper et al., 2021; Dawson, 2014; GSA, 2022; Marín-Spiotta et al., 2020; URGE, 2021; All Aboard). While the geosciences are an extremely rich discipline, knowledge tends to circulate within scientific siloes of practitioners trained in similar backgrounds. This session aims to create an example of an inclusive science communication space for a broad spectrum of geoscientists and non-geoscientists who are interested in discussing how science, academia, and/or geoscience culture has played a role in real life, “IRL”. Based on the success of previous sessions at GSA 2020 and 2021, it has become clear that there is enough support within the geoscience community to hold multiple diversity sessions that bring a nuanced understanding for how physical geoscience research can be contextualized and applied within real-world contexts, which necessarily involves non-academic communities (CTSAC, 2011). This session would place particular emphasis on giving space to early career professionals, graduate students, and alumni of GSA’s On To the Future (OTF) program to share their efforts to diversify the geoscience community. Now in its 10th year, OTF has supported over 700 geoscientists from diverse backgrounds, many of whom are now supporting the next generation of geoscientists. In addition, we also invite presentations on all geoscience research that includes examples of community engagement efforts that involve direct benefits for local communities, local community members that are part of project leadership teams, and research methodologies/questions that support community cultural values and a virtuous exchange between communities and researchers (e.g. Indigenous research frameworks) (Bueno-Watts et al, 2014; David-Chavez, 2018; David-Chavez et al., 2020). Multigenerational engagement with historically marginalized communities, and non-academic communities more generally, is an often overlooked component of making geoscience research and geoscience education more inclusive, equitable, and just (Canfield et al, 2020). This session will address this issue explicitly by including a wide array of examples of real geoscience contexts within different spheres of society, e.g. policy and education. Session Chairs: Akiah Alwan ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>), Graduate Research Fellow, Department of Geosciences, Auburn University Leila M. Joyce Seals ([log in to unmask]), PhD Candidate, Department of Geology, University of Kansas Darryl Reano ([log in to unmask]), Assistant Professor, ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University Elizabeth Long ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>), Associate Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Geological Society of America [cid:6f085916-4a79-43e3-898f-8138130b9b55] Akilah Alwan (she/they) Phd Candidate, Earth System Science NSF Graduate Research Fellow UCAR Next Generation Fellow SREB Doctoral Scholar Department of Geosciences, Auburn University [log in to unmask] Book a meeting with me<https://calendly.com/alwanresearch/meet-with-akilah>