Christopher Keane, Leila Gonzales, Heather Houlton

American Geosciences Institute

10 October 2011

S

ure, we have something to contribute, among others….

Scale is a challenge. Geoscience contribution to US

GDP was 0.3% in 2010…

W

e need to punch above our weight

T

he ideal science for the 21st Century?

First Issue

Today’s middle school student will be the person in your seat in 2050

T

here is little you can do today to change the system to fundamentally change their path

Real change will affect the workforce of the 22nd Century

T

he U.S. will be majority minority. Will the geosciences get it right?

Second Issue

United States: 250,000 geoscientists

Russia: 80,000 geoscientist

Europe: 60,000 geoscientists

China: 40,000 geoscientists

Canada: 35,000 geoscientists

Africa: ~10,000+ geoscientists

South America: Unknown

Middle East: Unknown Iraq: 5,000

India: Unknown

Exporting geoscience talent

Has domestic demand butexports talent

Largely is pr nt talent domestically

1

25,000 geoscientists expected to retire

7

2,000 geoscience job growth by 2021 (BLS)

1

5,000 total new graduates over the next 10 years

O

r 45,000 total new graduates if you hire B.S. level

N

et deficit of over 150,000 by 2021

Third Issue

In resource-oriented economies…. Geoscience is distinctly solid-earth geology Near-surface processes are often omitted Water issues often viewed as external

Licensure, bonding, and reporting to market authorities often

required for practiceI

n non-resource economies… Geoscience is encompassing Licensure is required unevenly

I

n general, licensure is not transferrable – but there are efforts to help

L

icensure requirements can inhibit the rise of the

journeyman geoscientistN

ationality can become irrelevant, but the right to practice remains critical

Fourth Issue

D

ecrease student attritionI

mport talent This isn’t Information Technology….

E

xpand domestic capacity

S

ubstitution with non-geoscientists

Efficiencies Wide open opportunity for innovations and entrepreneurial efforts. 3% p.a. efficiency increases currently.

Solution by Recognizing Leadership

Solution by Recognizing Leadership

Take Ownership in the Solution

B

e honest about scale and scope

R

ecognize where workforce processes are working

B

uild involvement by the broad community in the civil society of the profession

R

ecognize the time lag of change – build for the second next

generation to see through real change