We live in challenging times. Artificial Intelligence endangers not just jobs, but creativity, motivation, and one's sense of worth. Opportunity disparities pit ourselves against one another, even though we share much more in common than not. The paired climate and energy crises — and their solutions — raise temperatures globally, or disproportionately impact local environments. Technology unnecessarily saps our time, energy and concentration. Trustworthy news outlets are dwindling, making us susceptible to echo chambers, conspiracy theory, and manipulation. Education is being undermined on myriad sides, as well as from within.

I hypothesize that the geosciences — and the teaching thereof — are a uniquely suited antidote to many of these threats. Drawing on anecdotal experience in the classroom and field, I note several ancillary benefits of effective geoscience education: The immense range of spatial and temporal scales of geologic processes require perspectives that are difficult to imagine, as empathy itself requires. Intensive field-based experiences can bring together students with diverse histories and strengths, and empower individuals and community. The interconnectedness of Earth system 'spheres' emphasizes how small changes can have large influences, often in unexpected ways. The slowness of geologic processes — and the study thereof — can bring deep time perspectives that should improve mental health, especially during uncertain times. The partially observable nature of the Earth system requires geoscientists to discriminate between numerous possibilities, with abundant but incomplete data, akin to the challenge of effective decision-making in our modern world. Finally, the geosciences offer tangible real-world benefits: they can provide gainful, meaningful employment that is comparatively future-proof, while providing (in some cases the only) solutions to present and impending crises. Emphasizing these benefits in our teaching may be one way to address existential challenges, while also addressing disconcerting trends in geoscience enrollments.