Data science, analytics and visualization technologies and methods emerge as significant capabilities that address a number of challenges and present new opportunities in improving Earth and Space science data usability. This session will highlight and discuss the novelty and strength of these emerging fields and technologies of these components, and their trends. We invite papers and presentations to examine and share the experience of:
- What benefits they offer to Earth and Space Science
- What science research challenges they address
- How they help transform science data into information and knowledge
- In what ways they can advance scientific research
- What lessons did we learn in the development and infusion of these methods and technologies

Virtual reality has significantly grown in recent years in both teaching and research. This Technique allows the user to explore virtual worlds resulting from numerical modeling, geophysical data processing or image processing (photogrammetry for example) at various spatial and temporal scales. For example, it is possible to observe atoms and molecules, to move in crystalline structures, to visualize elements of subsoil reconstructed from seismic data, or to move in extraterrestrial landscapes or in models mantle convection. Depending on the technology used, this reality could be two-dimensional or three-dimensional, static or animated. The user can interact with the environment or simply be a spectator. This tool therefore offers new perspectives for measurement and observation in the world of research. It also offers new ways to explore the Earth and planets and is underused for teaching. The objective of this session is to explore the latest developments in virtual reality in the earth sciences. Presentations proposing new approaches for research as well as for teaching are welcome.