The UK faces an industry skills shortage as the number of students studying geology at university has fallen by 43% since 2014.
The Geological Society and has decided on five aims for a strategy of action following a summit in June to discuss reasons for the decline with 50 geoscience educators, academics, industry representatives, and outreach specialists.
These aims include creating a forum for geoscience organisations to speak with one voice and promote geoscience as a “vital” STEM subject.
A second step would be to engage with the Government to highlight the importance of geosciences in meeting net zero targets, addressing the UN SDGs and leading the UK through the energy transition. Geosciences should also be recognised in research and industrial strategies.
The important place of geoscience among the STEM subjects and to society should be promoted through education and outreach programmes.
A fourth approach would be to support STEM teachers, higher education advisors, career counsellors and parents in teaching geoscience ideas and their relevance in order to emphasise geoscience careers as essential to society.
And the strategy would also encourage a more diverse range of people to become geoscientists.
A statement from the Geological Society read: “Without action, the decline in skilled graduates will pose a serious and economically damaging skills shortage in the UK, particularly at a critical time of transition for many industries and businesses that rely on geological expertise.
“In the coming months, the Society and University Geoscience UK will organise a series of workshops and consultations among key stakeholders to develop action and work plans aimed at achieving these strategic aims in the next five years.”
University Geoscience UK (UGUK) represents all Earth Science departments in the UK. Its purpose is to promote discussion and exchange of information between Earth Science departments.