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for all concerned. It was a pleasure to have
been involved and we look forward to further
collaborations in the future, including
at the next IGC in Capetown, South Africa,
in 2016.”
Barbara Murphy, President of the American
Institute of Professional Geologists
(AIPG), who co-chaired the second session,
commented: “What was very evident were
the common global issues that we professional
geoscientists share and the role our
organizations have as the voices for the
profession of geology. Our session, Cross
Communication in Geoscience, included
six talks that focused on the importance
of communicating what geologists do, on
the need for common global academic and
professional standards in part to increase
the public awareness of the important role
of professional geologists, to improve public
perception and trust in geologists, but also
to encourage students to enter the geosciences
and to have a better understanding
of the educational background they need to
become a professional geologist. The session
Cross Communication in Geoscience
seemed to really represent what the 34 th IGC
was about as an international gathering of
geoscientists communicating amongst
each other and sharing their enthusiasm
and knowledge of their field of geology but
also realizing the importance of communicating
with the public the importance of
what we do.” Barbara also enjoyed working
with EFG, CG, AGI, and AIG in the organizing
of these sessions and looks forward to
working together on other efforts for the
geosciences profession.
In addition, EFG President Ruth Allington
participated in the meeting of the Affiliated
Organisations of IUGS. This meeting
helped to intensify the contact with partner
organisations and the executive of IUGS
and initiated, as a final point, the kick off
of the new “Task Group on Global Geoscience
Professionalism”. The mission of this
new TG will be to provide practical support
for the whole community of professional
geoscientists, for example by providing
information (probably in form of a portal
with information on relevant national and
regional websites) about working in particular
countries and continents (different
educational requirements, residency rules
and registration/licensure requirements
and procedures) (for more information
see article below).
Other networking activities included
the presentation of the EFG/EGS photo
competition prize book to other co-chairs
and invited speakers at the symposium, as
well as discussions with delegates of other
geoscience organisations (YES, EuroGeo-
Surveys, IUGS, etc.).
In conclusion, the symposium was coorganised
by EFG, and the presentations
given as well as other networking activities
helped definitively to raise the profile
of EFG in an international forum. In the
words of EFG President Ruth Allington:
“personal contacts with the IUGS executive
and representatives of other Affiliated
Organisations were very helpful in establishing
EFG as part of the international geosciences
‘family’ and in spotting starting
points for collaboration and new projects
at international level, for the benefit of the
profession and wider society”.
More information: www.34igc.org
New IUGS Task Group on Global
Geoscience Professionalism
Subsequent to the successful symposium
on “Strengthening communication between
fundamental and applied geosciences and
between geoscientists and public” co-organized
by EFG at the 34 th IGC at Brisbane,
a new Task Group (TG) has been created
at the IUGS on Global Geoscience Professionalism.
The starting point for this new Task
Group is the idea that, in general, the
majority of those who define themselves
as professional geoscientists work in industrial/applied
sectors, but professionalism
is just as important in the academic and
teaching arenas, which tend to fall outside
the purview of professional registration
and oversight. Raising the profile of
professionalism and gaining acceptance of
its importance amongst the academic and
research communities is vital if their work is
to truly serve society. It is rapidly becoming
accepted that excellence in practical and
professional skills go hand-in-hand with
excellence in scientific research.
To ensure that the international geoscience
community is engaged in this transformation
of its profession and to enable
IUGS to secure itself as the logical home
of the professional dimension of the Earth
sciences over time, it has been proposed
that a new IUGS Task Group entitled the
Task Group on Global Geoscience Professionalism
is formed.
The purpose of the Task Group on Global
Geoscience Professionalism will be:
• To provide a specific international
forum for discussion of matters
of common concern and interest
among geoscientists and geoscientific
organizations involved in professional
affairs, at the local, national and international
level;
• To act as a resource to IUGS on professional
affairs in the geosciences
as they may influence and impact
“Earth Science for the Global Community”
in general - both now and
in the future;
• To offer and provide leadership and
knowledge transfer services to countries
and geoscientist communities
around the world seeking to introduce
systems of professional governance
and self-regulation in the Earth
sciences;
• To facilitate a more ‘joined up’ geoscience
community fostering better
appreciation by academics and teachers
of the professional skills that
geoscientists need in the workplace,
and facilitate better communication
between academic and applied communities
leading to more effective
application of research findings and
European Geologist 34 | November 2012
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