Despite the lagging U.S. economy, salaries for aggregated geoscience-related occupations increased by 1.1 percent between 2009 and 2010, while aggregated salaries for all life, physical and social science occupations decreased. Salaries for all U.S. occupations only increased by 0.2 percent between 2009 and 2010. Over the past decade, geoscience salaries have increased between 8 and 27 percent, with the largest increases occurring in natural science manager salaries and petroleum engineering salaries, and the smallest increases in environmental engineering. In 2010, mean annual salaries for geoscience occupations ranged from $129,320 for natural science managers to $67,810 for environmental scientists. Although environmental scientists have the lowest salary of all geoscience occupations, their mean annual salary still exceeds the national average for other science occupations by $1,420. (Note all salaries were normalized to 2010 dollars for year-to-year comparisons). In addition to competitive salaries, geoscience occupations are expected to grow by 23 percent between 2008 and 2018, adding just over 60,000 jobs to the U.S. economy. The majority of the job growth will be in the professional, scientific and technical services sector. This webinar covers the information presented in Geoscience Currents #49-53.

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In this webinar, Dr. Thomas D. Hoisch from Northern Arizona University examines the results from a survey of 783 students in introductory geology classes that were surveyed at Northern Arizona University during the fall 2008 and spring 2009 semesters. The survey evaluated the perceptions and attitudes toward the sciences that are offered as undergraduate degree programs: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, and Physics. The survey results indicate that misperceptions exist regarding the field of geology. Geology was perceived to be low in prestige, low in difficulty and low-paying relative to biology, chemistry, and physics. In addition, geology occupations were perceived to pay less than students’ minimum salary expectations. Student perceptions of prestige, difficulty and pay are significantly correlated, with students tending to associate higher pay with greater prestige and difficulty (Hoisch and Bowie, 2010). Read more in Currents #36.

References:
Hoisch, T.D., and Bowie, J.I., 2010, Assessing factors that influence the recruitment of majors from introductory geology classes at Northern Arizona University. J. Geoscience Education, v. 58, p. 166-176. http://nagt-jge.org/doi/pdf/10.5408/1.3544297

 

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Collectively, the mega-trends in the Australian mining industry point to significant environmental challenges for the future of mining and mineral processing, such as potentially increased unit energy, pollutant, waste and water costs, and subsequently higher production costs. This will impact not only the demand for minerals and metals, but also drive the search for alternative technologies across exploration, mining, milling, smelting and refining. In the long term, it will increase the need for greater material efficiency and recycling.  Read more in Geoscience Currents #29.

Webinar Co-sponsors: Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME), and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG).
 

Examination of these trends indicates a low representation of teachers with geoscience degrees. Considering that earth science education requirements are met by the majority of students in grades 6-8, the low representation of elementary school teachers with geoscience degrees is cause for concern in regards to the preparation of elementary students for mandatory earth science curriculum in the middle grades, and for priming their interest to take earth science courses in the higher grades. Furthermore, K-12 education provides an important formative stage in a student’s education, and the coursework to which students are exposed during this period (especially during high school) influences choices they make in regards to college majors.

Read more in Geoscience Currents #28.

The percentage of geoscience doctorates conferred to women has increased by 5% since 2007 while the percentage of bachelor’s and master’s degrees conferred to women has remained steady over the same time period. Compared to other disciplines, the geosciences rank consistently ahead of all physical science and engineering degrees. Additionally, the geosciences had the largest increase in the percentage of degrees conferred to women between 1993 and 2006 for all science and engineering degrees.

Read more in Geoscience Currents #27.