Aleksei Nelaev, AGU Voices for Science cohort member

With the Artemis II launch scheduled for April 1, the world’s attention is fixed on the sky. But for geoscientists, the mission isn’t just about the rocket – it’s about the “geological proving ground” that awaits us in lunar orbit.

As a member of the AGU Voices for Science program, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is for scientists to step out of the lab and into the public conversation. With the dedicated support of the AGU and the training provided by the Voices for Science cohort, I’ve been empowered to launch a project that bridges the gap between complex planetary research and the global community.

This project – the Geoscientists’ Voices podcast – serves as a vital tool for scientific advocacy. It provides a platform where high-level data meets human storytelling, making the “Artemis Generation” of exploration accessible to everyone, from students to policymakers.

In two special “Mission Briefing” interviews being released this week, I sat down with Dr. Nicolas Randazzo (NASA Perseverance) and Prof. Scott King (AGU Fellow, a world-renowned expert in the thermal evolution of planetary interiors) to ask the questions that the general public – and the scientific community – are burning to hear:

• How does meeting an astronaut like Jeremy Hansen change the way we view mission objectives?
• Can the human eye identify “color provinces” on the lunar far side that our robotic rovers might miss?
• Why is exploring the Moon’s interior actually the key to understanding the survival of our own planet?

These stories remind us that scientists don’t just “do” science; they advocate for the future of discovery. Whether it’s meeting with legislators on Capitol Hill or sharing the excitement of a lunar flyby on YouTube, our voices ensure that science remains a national priority.

As we watch the SLS rocket ignite on Wednesday, let’s remember that every mission like Artemis reminds us that we aren’t just observing the universe—we are finally becoming a part of it.

Join the conversation: Watch the Artemis II Special Briefings on the Geoscientists’ Voices YouTube channel this Monday and Tuesday.

Artemis II: From Mars to the Moon with NASA’s Dr. Nicolas Randazzo