Initial Publication Date: July 17, 2025
2025 Awardee - Dr. Rachel Phillips
Dr. Rachel Phillips has been awarded the 2025 James Shea Award by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers.
Dr. Rachel Phillips
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Provenance: Dr. Rachel Phillips, University of South Carolina
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Rachel Phillips is an NSF STEM Education Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of South Carolina and online science communicator as @GeoGirl on YouTube. She received her Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at El Paso, where she conducted lab-based research to improve reconstructions of Earth's ancient climate by strengthening the reliability and precision of palaeoceanographic proxies. Her postdoctoral research aims to identify misperceptions of geoscience that deter student enrollment. With insights from this research, Rachel works to transform such misperceptions and promote global inclusivity and engagement in geoscience through her YouTube channel, @GeoGirl. Having posted over 330 videos with over 5.5 million views from around the globe, she has made significant progress toward improving the accessibility and perceptions of geoscience. Now, as a Science Communication Fellow for the Geological Society of America, Rachel collaborates with other members of the geoscience community to promote the diversity of research, careers, and scientists in the field to her global audience.
