6-1 Survey Says! Prioritize Geoscience Career Data to Boost Student Attraction

Session: Geoscience Education in the Western U.S and México. Practices, Pathways, and Partnerships. (Posters)

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

Employment growth in U.S. geoscience disciplines is expected to outpace average job growth in the coming decade [1]. However, many students are unfamiliar with geoscience career opportunities [2] or have negative impressions of extractive disciplines within the geosciences [3]. To identify effective strategies that attract more students to the geosciences, we administered a 30-question survey to high school and college students over three semesters. Responses (1572) came from students in introductory college courses at a 4-year college (60.4%), two local 2-year colleges (12.6%) and two local high schools (27.0%). Survey questions aim to learn about sources of information students use to choose majors, characteristics of department outreach and career information that attract them to a major and demographic information. 

Students indicate that the two primary research tools used to explore potential majors are guidance counselors and academic advisors (63.8%), and university department websites (57.8%). Within digital sources such as websites, students indicate their attention is captured with videos (58.5%), bulleted lists (51.9%), and photographs (51.6%). More than half of college students (60.9%) and 31.6% of high school students indicate it is important for universities to include information in languages other than English. When asked whose information is most valuable, students indicate guidance/academic counselors, industry professionals and current students/alumni. Characteristics of jobs that attract students to careers include those related to environmental protection (72.8%), altruistic activities like solving problems in their community (69.0%) or minimizing the effects of natural disasters (65.7%). Approximately half indicated they are attracted to working primarily outdoors (54.1%). Few students are attracted to careers in mining (18.7%) or the oil and gas industry (18.5%). 

Key takeaways for increasing student interest in geoscience careers include: 1) developing department websites with videos and clearly organized career information; 2) sharing information about geoscience careers, such as job outlook, salary and roles of geoscientists in altruistic activities like solving community problems and altruism. Additional collaborations with industry to support high school counselors in learning about geoscience career opportunities will also encourage student interest and awareness of the geosciences. 

[1] AGI, 2025; [2] Moss et al., 2025; [3] Rogers et al., 2024

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 3, 2026

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