How we evaluate risk depends on our background and lived experience. In this issue of Eos, we explore how effective science communication recognizes and responds to risk perception in different communities. When the Marshall Fire literally brought debris to their doorsteps, Colorado geoscientists responded to neighborhood concerns about air quality with empathy—as well as with monitoring equipment and scientific diligence. More than 2,000 kilometers away, volcanologists and emergency managers in Mexico are sharing specific risks posed by Popocatépetl, acknowledging residents’ differing life experiences and current responsibilities. Both approaches balance humanity with scientific rigor and respect.
On 30 December 2021, a grass fire sparked outside Boulder, Colo. Ushered in by high winds, the blaze quickly overtook homes in the towns of Superior and Louisville. Credit: Ron Rovtar Photography/Alamy Stock Photo Read more 
Popocatépetl looms over central Mexico, but local perception of risk from the volcano varies depending on factors such as age, proximity, and life experience. Credit: Russ Bowling/Flickr, CC BY 2.0 Read more 
Seismometers were used to detect frost quakes in Sodankylä, Finland. Credit: Kari Moisio Read more 
Credit: iStock.com/wildpixel Read more
—Caryl-Sue Micalizio, Editor in Chief