Firstly, apologies for the delay in getting back to you regarding your responses to the three referee reports. I hope it has not caused you inconvenience, though I imagine you are keen to prepare your revised manuscript.

In that regard, I note the generally positive and encouraging comments of all three reviewers, and the carefully considered and specific suggestions that they have to improve the paper. I am gratified that most of these healthy criticisms seem to have been acknowledged in your responses to the reviewers, and it seesm clear that your manuscript will be revised around them. Some of the reviewers have suggested alternative ways to structure the paper and while these seem sensible it is up to you as to what degree you adopt those suggestions. However, I would ask that the revised paper should aim to address the following overarching points:

(1) A more focused title and abstract that better represents the revised content
(2) A clearer research question, or at least a research spine to the paper, that more clearly addresses the science of asteroid impact.
(3) A broader context that briefly sets the scene of the museum into the wider perspective of other impact crater museums or visitor centres.
(4) A more judicious use of figures and images to reduce the number of old and already published mages and present new images of the actual exhibitions.

I am sure that, from your comments, many of these changes are already in preparation, and on that basis I very much look forward to receiving the revised paper.

Kind regards,

Iain

Dear Jaime, Ligia and Araxi

Many thanks for your additional work on the manuscript which has provided valuable additional detail and clarification based on the reviewers' comments. Although your responses to the reviews are extremely constructive, the revised paper has the feel of being simply a descriptive account of a particular (albeit very special) geoscience outreach project.

I think 3 minor additions will help broaden its appeal and prvide a more critical context:

1. The inclusion of some brief remarks about the current state of (geo)science communication in Mxexico. I would surmise that this is rather limited, and hence provide some motivating context for the development of the Chicxulub science eductaion initiative.
2. Provide additional sentences on the initial design process - as it seems clear that a number of different disciplinary perspectives were integrated to establish the 'earth system science' framing of the final museum.
3. It seems to me that the Chicxulub science museum is special, perhaps unique, in that it is devoted to a moment in time - a geological event, which brings together all the elements of the earth system to explain a significant turning point our planet's history. This is earth system science captured in one place, which is quite remarkable. It is for that reason that I am confident that this Centre, and this paper reporting it's development, is significnt and of wider geoscientific interest. But this general framing is rather underplayed in the revised manuscript and it would be a shame to lose it, so you should make this again more explicit.

I'm content that the ms need not go out to reviewers again - it seems that their specific queries and concerns have been addressed. I'll be happy to liaise with you about these additional points around the framing of the paper.

line 22 'allow the integration of up-to-date'
line 40 - 'requires the development and implementation of'
line 45 - 'have a rich tradition in which collections of ... play an important role...'
line 49 'allow the integration of'
line 52 '...of university education programmes and of profssional workshops...'
line 53 - 'Global Geoparks'
line 57 - 'Some, such as...'
line 69 - 'Here, we outline how it has develop and examine the potential .... offer, , including the challenges ahead'.
line 77 - 'popular themes like meteorite impacts... atrractive contexts for geoscience engagement'
line 79 - 'have developed public outreach projects'
line 94 - 'the physical and human capabilities that allow the expansion of ...'
line 107 - '...might be expected to be...'
line 122 - 'The Chicxulub...'
line 136 - ADD a closing sentence, such as 'So, in summary, Chicxulub presents an opportunity to showcase the holistic and integrated nature of Earth system science.'
line 143 - 'the plan.... its effects....'
line 182 - UNAM - state in full.
line 228 'that permit issues such as present-day global warming.... to be addressed.'
line 290 - 'In Mexico, research projects address societal issues such as ... but geoscientists have yet to have long-term programs that have an effective public, educational, and policy impact. The CIRAS offers a potenial facility for doing that.'
line 331 - ' ...outcrops further expands...'
line 333 'smartphone applications' ?? [rather than 'apps]
line 378 - '...permits the visualization of...'
line 395 - 'evolutionary studies have entered...'
line 407 - 'What is critical is having a closer...'
line 433 - MAKE CLEAR WHERE THIS QUOTE COMES FROM - WHICH REF??

Thank you for choosing Geoscience Communication for your research and for engaging so thoroughly in the peer review process. Once you have made the technical corrections that have been outlined by the Editor, we will be delighted to accept your manuscript for publication.

Many Thanks,
Sam Illingworth
(Chief Executive Editor of Geoscience Communication)