Comparing Geosciences Across Borders and Cultures How Seamless

Comparing “Geosciences” Across Borders and Cultures – How Seamless can the Geosciences Move Globally Christopher Keane Leila Gonzales 1 September 2010

IUGS Taskforce on Global Geoscience Workforce Born from session at the IGC 33 in Oslo, Norway in 2008 Focus on 3 primary questions: 1. Defining the Geosciences 2. Measuring the Producers and Consumers of Geoscientists 3. Strategies for Capacity Building Membership is OPEN. Communications is by email, wiki, and skype. Currently working on the first 2 questions.

The Parochial Question Developed nations face “The Great Crew Change” Likely permanent drop in economic activity Developing nations face: “Brain-drain” which inhibits building competencies Divorced priorities from needs from central planning Produce petroleum geologists when you need seismologists and geomorphologists Central government reduces investment in geoscience

Geoscience Academic Units by Country

What is a Geoscientist? US Federal Government Definition Strict discipline and work duty boundaries Resource intensive countries Trend towards less inclusive (exclude soils, geography, etc. ) Less resource-dependent countries Broader view, especially for surface process areas

What about an Earth Systems Scientist? An excellent construct for geoscience education A fine construct for the discipline to operate Increasing interdisciplinary research A model for communicating with the public But when talking about the grain-size of people… Earth Systems Science occurs in teams. Each team member adds a bit to the whole.

Impact of Definitions US Federal Definition of Geoscientist: Excludes managers, regardless of tasks Relies on employer titles Therefore US Government thinks there are only 5000 geoscientists in the US Petroleum industry (there about 80, 000). Degrees in China are not necessarily awarded per discipline, so titles can be ambiguous External estimates of 400, 000 Chinese geoscientists appear to be off by a factor of 10.

What is a Nationality in the Geosciences? The ‘countable’ nationality of a geoscientist is a challenge. What nationality is a: Foreign-national educated and then employed locally? Foreign national educated and then employed by a local company to work in their home/third country? A geoscientist who works as a journeyman across projects around the world – major resource/consulting companies

Where are geoscientists? United States: 250, 000 geoscientists Europe: 140, 000 geoscientists China: 40, 000 geoscientists Canada: 20, 000 geoscientists Africa: ~10, 000 geoscientists South America: Unknown Middle East: Unknown Iraq: 5, 000 India: Unknown

Where are the new geoscientists coming from? United States 6, 500 total new graduates Europe: 8, 000 total new graduates (50% in Russia) Africa: 1, 000 total (about 400 p. a. in South Africa)

Who can afford to export talent? Demand is outstripping supply in: China Europe (in aggregate) United States (but looks to be narrowing) Exporting talent China, ex-pat students not returning Australia, educate many foreign students who leave Africa, top talent seeking better pay

Licensure and Legal Issues Geoscientists often “work in/out of the cold” Nowhere do you HAVE to be licensed Many places place limits if you are not Examples? “European Geologist” (Europe) “Certified Professional Geologist” (USA) Licensed geologist (Various US States) “Registered Geologist/Hydrologist” (Various Countries)

Licensure and Legal Issues, cont. Why? Enables free multinational movement to practice (Europe) Enables legal authority (some U. S. States) Allows legal interaction with stock exchanges What does it guarantee? Fundamental competencies in geoscience Understanding of ethical and social responsibility

Acknowledgements • • • • Moutaz Al-Dabbas, Geological Society of Iraq (Iraq) Tanvi Arora, NGRI (India) Jay Barton, (South Africa) Peter Pangman, Society of Exploration Geophysicists (USA) Sarah Gaines, UNESCO (France) Ochir Gerel, Mongolian University of Science & Technology (Mongolia) Alireza Gharagozlou, NGDIR (Iran) Leila M. Gonzales, American Geological Institute (USA) Christopher M. Keane, American Geological Institute (USA) Michael G. Loudin, Exxon. Mobil (USA) Michael Leggo, (Australia) Edmund Nickless, The Geological Society of London (UK) Eikichi Tsukuda, Geological Survey of Japan, AIST (Japan) Jacques Varet, BRGM (France) Andrew Waltho, Rio Tinto (Australia) Xiaoping Yang, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) And the entire YES Network

We Want You! The taskforce is engaging all interested individuals who are willing to: Communicate about the nature of the geosciences in their nation Willing to discuss these issues domestically Willing to do a little research on who/what/where of the geosciences in their nation. Willing to review documents/skype sessions regarding global geoscience workforce Interested – talk to me! (keane@agiweb. org)