Creativity in Earth Science - a conversation with Catherine Ciocchi

This month, Crankin’ Up Creativity looks at how creativity advances science by talking with Hudson Valley native Catherine Ciocchi. As a youngster, Catherine and her family enjoyed camping and hiking in the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains.

Catherine Ciocchi is an Earth science teacher and author of This Land is Your Land (Arbordale Publishing)

Now an Earth science teacher for high schoolers, Catherine also is the author of This Land is Your Land (Arbordale Publishing, May 2015), a picture book that has young readers take a trip around the world to discover the Earth's landforms and geologic features, www.catherineciocchi.com, twitter.com/CatherineCiocc1.

Crankin’ Up Creativity: Science is based on cut-and-dry facts. That leaves little room for creativity, doesn’t it?

Catherine Ciocchi: We are all on the planet Earth, except for the group aboard the International Space Station. For this reason, Earth science is actually the foundation of our every day (and night) existence. You can’t get away from the moon and stars, the weather or beautiful views of our land and ocean.  It’s unavoidable, so Earth science naturally fosters our creativity.

Crankin’: Okay, but how is that creativity expressed through Earth science?

Catherine: A natural phenomenon is a fancy phrase for an observed occurrence or circumstance. We can thank all the Earth scientists who investigate natural phenomena for their creativity. For example, ideas that questioned existing conditions led to the creation of scientific instruments, enabling us to receive warnings and prepare for impending weather events. We are forced to be creative in planning in the face of a pending storm and even more creative when we lose power from the effects of one. Think about it. Someone got creative and made the umbrella. Creativity in preparing for geologic disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and erupting volcanoes are also, unfortunately, familiar to us.

Crankin’: Got it. Besides the wea

ther, how else do creative ideals that relate to Earth science benefit the planet and us? What impact do they have people’s behaviors, if any?

Catherine: Creativity is especially essential in the control of harmful occurrences to our Earth, such as forest fires, oil spills and toxic waste pollution. Take the bring-your-own-bags to the grocery store initiative, which stemmed from concerns about disturbing scientific data on the Earth’s atmosphere. This is a creative solution to protect our planet by involving shoppers in an everyday way that reduces waste and pollution. The same is true with the creation of alternate forms of clean energy. How far must you go to find solar panels on a home? Not very, I’ll bet.

Crankin’: It’s clear that facts and creativity work hand-in-hand in the exploration and advancement of Earth science. What about the artistry of it?

Catherine: Not just the professionals are creative. We all are. How many people try to catch the perfect photo of a beautiful sunrise, sunset, full moon, rainbow, landscape or seascape? Others might paint that gorgeous view. We all know that the sun doesn’t actually rise or set because it doesn’t travel… right? The Earth spins like a child watching for a parent on a merry-go-round.

We creatively enjoy this beautiful planet. Yoga on the beach, yoga on the farm, running along outdoor trails, hiking, hang gliding, surfing, snowboarding, skiing, and star gazing are creative ways we find happiness and satisfaction in nature. Beyond that, people design and cultivate flower gardens, vegetable gardens, rock gardens and koi ponds. We naturally create. Let your view make a creative you!

Karen Maserjian Shan is a communications professional, editor and writer with an expertise in connecting people and businesses through written communications in print and digital platforms.