Roundtable Co-Sponsors: YES Network USA National Chapter, Soil Science Society of America, Australian Institute of Geoscientists

The geoscience profession is facing critical human resource issues as a result of its aging workforce and trickle of new graduates entering core geoscience occupations. Since the mid-1990's the geoscience degree completion rates have hovered near 12 percent for undergraduates and near 20 percent for graduate students. Furthermore, data from the National Science Foundation’s 2006 statistical databases indicates that only 30 percent of geoscience graduates work in core geoscience occupations. The majority of the geoscience workforce will be retiring over the next decade and data from federal sources, professional societies, and industry indicate this growing imbalance in the profession’s age demographics. Over the past three years, the age demographics for geoscientists in academia and the federal government indicate an acceleration in the loss of senior geoscientists from the profession.

Because of increasing pressure to address issues such as energy supply, climate and other environmental concerns, and as seen with the Japan disaster, strengthening hazard mitigation, there is an expected 23 percent increase in geoscience jobs over the next decade on top of a wave of nearly 50 percent of existing geoscientists retiring during the same time. The U.S. is beginning to see the loss of fundamental technical skills in the geoscience workforce, both within academia and in the applied sectors. Across all fields, future geoscientists will need solid fundamental skills in both geoscience and mathematics that can be applied to different geoscience challenges including water resources, energy, minerals, hazards and climate issues. Given the current trends, many core and specialty geoscience sub-disciplines that are also economically critical are at risk of extinction. Without properly targeted investment in the retention geoscience university students and the successful transition of geoscience graduates into core geoscience occupations, the sustainability of U.S. geoscience academic infrastructure and pursuit of basic geoscience research is at risk.

This roundtable is a live web-cast. The roundtable will commence with a brief presentation that highlights these main issues and will be followed by Skype chat-based discussion groups on the following topics.

Discussion group focus questions:

• How do we successfully retain geoscience students in US university programs?
• How do we successfully transition geoscience graduates into geoscience occupations?

Roundtable moderators will present their discussion group summaries at the end of the roundtable session.

Read the summary report of the discussion groups.

This webinar focuses on the steps these departments have taken to stay in touch with alumni and get them involved in providing career information for their students (e.g. providing talks in geoscience courses, participating in a Geoscience Career Day or Fair, interacting with students at a department open house day, actively mentoring students, etc.) Following the presentations, there is an open discussion period in which audience members from around the world to ask questions of the speakers.

Our speakers include:

"The Importance of Building Alumni Relations in Geoscience Departments"
 Download presentation slides

• Dallas D. Rhodes, Emeritus Professor, Department of Geology and Geography, Georgia Southern University
• Susan M. Taylor, Dewberry, Davis LLC; Alumna, Department of Geology and Geography, Georgia Southern University

"Engaging Alumni In Undergraduate Geoscience Education: What we do and how we do it, a case study from St. Lawrence University"
 Download presentation slides

• J. Mark Erickson, Chapin Professor of Geology, St. Lawrence University, NY
• Sarah B. Z. McElfresh, SLU Geology Alumni Council, Winston-Salem, NC; 1998 St. Lawrence University Alumna

Following the presentations, there is an open discussion period in which audience members from around the world to ask questions of the speakers.

Our speakers include:

• Mr. G. Warfield "Skip" Hobbs, 2011 President of the American Geological Institute; Managing Partner of Ammonite Resources, Energy & Mineral Advisors
  "Geology in the Finance Sector"
   
• Dr. Craig Jarchow, Managing Director, Pine Brook Road Partners, LLC
  "Creating Energy Companies: Private Equity from a Geoscientist’s Perspective"
   
• Mr. Gregory B. Jansen,  Managing Director, Commonfund Capital, Inc.
  "From Rocks to Stocks - The Evolution of a Geoscience Career"

EDMAP is an interactive and meaningful matching-funds grant program with universities for students to gain experience and knowledge in geologic mapping as well as contribute to the national effort to geologically map all of the United States. This program trains the next generation of geologic mappers and is one of the three components of the congressionally-mandated U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP). Geology faculty, skilled in geologic mapping, request EDMAP funding to support upper-level undergraduate and graduate students at their institution in a one-year mentored geologic mapping project that focuses on a specific geographic area. Also, each EDMAP proposal must be closely coordinated with a State Geologist or a USGS geologic mapping project. Every federal dollar awarded is matched with university funds. EDMAP has supported 144 universities and over 850 students from geoscience departments across the Nation. Following the presentations, you can listen to the open discussion period in which audience members from around the world to ask questions of the speakers.

Our speakers include:

• Randall C. Orndorff  Download presentation slides
  Director, Eastern Geology and Paleoclimate Science Center at the U.S. Geological Survey
  previously: Associate Program Coordinator, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, U.S. Geological Survey
   
• Dr. John T. Haynes  Download presentation slides
  Assistant Professor, Department of Geology & Environmental Science, James Madison University
   
• Alan F. Halfen  Download presentation slides
  Ph.D. Student, Department of Geography, University of Kansas

Webinar Co-sponsors: U.S. Geological Survey

Resources to Learn More:

• EDMAP Program Website
• Geoscience Currents #39: USGS EDMAP Program - Training the Next Generation of Geoscientists

Our speakers include:

• Dr. Peadar McArdle, Director, Geological Survey of Ireland
• Mr. Garth Earls, Director, Geological Survey of Northern Ireland
• Prof. Pat Shannon, Professor of Geology, University College Dublin
• Dr. Deirdre Lewis, Technical Director for Mining & Minerals, SLR Consulting Ireland; Vice President, Institute of Geologists of Ireland

Webinar Co-sponsors: Geological Survey of Ireland, Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Royal Irish Academy, Institute of Geologists of Ireland, and the University College Dublin.

There is an open discussion period after the presentations in which audience members from around the world to ask questions of the panelists.

To download the report, visit: www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/natural-resources/publications/pages/geoscience---towards-a-smarter-economy.aspx

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

 

Download the presentation slides.

Following the presentations, there is a question and answer session with the speakers and webinar participants.

Our speakers include:

• Dr. Diane Stanitski, Climatologist & Program Manager, NOAA
• Dr. Rick Lumpkin, Physical Oceanographer, NOAA
• LCDR Michael J. Silah, Chief of Staff, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, NOAA

The presentations are followed by an question and answer session with the speakers and webinar participants.

Our panelists include:

• Carolyn Gramling, from EARTH Magazine, who discusses her career in science writing.
• Doug Prose, from the Earth Images Foundation, who explores the experience of becoming a film maker with a focus on earth science themes.
• John Copeland from Evergreen Films, a producer with extensive history in broadcast and cable TV productions, who looks at the role of geoscientists in consulting on projects.

Our speakers include:

• Leigh Freeman from Downing Teal, a leading recruiter of talent for the global minerals industry, who will look at the supply and demand trends for geoscientists in the minerals sector.
• James Steel from HSBC Securities (USA), who will explore both the metals trading sector and the numerous employment opportunities in the financial sector. (Note: this content was redacted due to the employer's requirements.)
• Gavin Mudd from Monash University, who will discuss workforce issues and developments in sustainable mining practices.

The presentations are followed by an question and answer session with the speakers and webinar participants.

Webinar Co-sponsors: Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG)