Geology Openness Paper

The Geological Society of America’s news site provides a variety of geological news sources from research papers to a live twitter feed. The purpose of the site is to provide a hub where someone can find recent research and current events in geology. Most of the content being shown focuses on geology. However, some posts will be heavily focused on biology, chemistry, or physics since geology can rely on knowledge in any of those disciplines. An example of this is the research on “Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria prior to the Great Oxidation Event from the 2.52 Ga Gamohaan Formation of South Africa.” That research paper involves chemistry and biology in addition to geology since it is referencing the “sulfur-oxidizing bacteria”. Prior knowledge in chemistry …show more content…
The information is made free to everyone, so the site is also great for students studying earth sciences or anyone interested in the topic that has the necessary background to understand the material. The website expands their audience by using a live twitter feed, which provides quick summaries of current research and occasionally posts an openness paper. They also provide links to main-stream articles on the posted research which most people would be able to understand with a minor background in earth science. By providing a large scope of information, the site can attract not just professional geologists, but students and laypeople interested in the topic. Specific articles may also attract other scientists, mostly chemists and biologists, since these topics are easily connected with geology. Because of the level of the material, most people viewing the page will be between the ages of 20-70, and will be living in America since that is where the society is based. There won’t be many people without a college-education visiting the site since they have little to no background in upper level