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Cosmogenic nuclide techniques have advanced the geosciences by providing tools for exposure age dating, burial dating, quantification of denudation rates and more. Advances in geochemistry, accelerator mass spectrometry and atom trap trace analyses are ushering in a new cosmogenic nuclide era, by improving the sensitivity of measurements to ultra- trace levels that now allow new applications of these techniques to numerous Earth surface processes. The advances in cosmogenic nuclide techniques have equipped the next generation of geoscientists with invaluable tools for understanding the planet, but addressing pressing needs requires rising to an even greater challenge: imbuing within the cosmogenic community, and the geosciences as a whole, a commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion that matches our dedication to scientific research. In this Primer, we review the state of the art and recent exciting breakthroughs in the use of cosmogenic nuclide techniques, focusing on erosion factories over space and time, and new perspectives on ice sheet stability. We also highlight promising ways forward in enhancing inclusion in the field, as well as obstacles that remain to be overcome.