133-1 The Dynamics of Mismatched Rhetoric, Popularity, and Economics for the Geosciences

Session: Geology Programs in an Environmental Science World

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Abstract:

The breadth of the geosciences brings with it certain challenges, as the field inevitably intersects with areas of popularity, policy, industry priorities, and the realities of the modern world. Sometimes these dynamics align, but in the current environment, it is unclear whether they are working in harmony or at cross-purposes.

One notable indicator of fundamental change in the geosciences is when the number of doctorates awarded exceeds that of master’s degrees, a pattern observed at major inflection points such as the early 1960s and mid-1980s. While the underlying nature of the new operational regime for the geosciences remains uncertain, we will examine data and trends relating to application areas, evolving employment dynamics, and the rapidly shifting policy priorities that intersect with the field.

Will the trend toward environmentally focused programs in geoscience departments prove beneficial or detrimental for graduates and the departments themselves? We will analyze patterns among programs currently succeeding in the geosciences and those that appear to be well-positioned for the future. Success in this context often hinges on supporting students’ increasing employment focus—ensuring that graduates are licensure-ready—while also deepening their foundations in fundamental geological and hydrological principles.

Additionally, we will consider some of the macroeconomic disconnects that pose critical challenges for all geoscience programs and their graduates, especially as policy shifts increasingly emphasize mineral resources as an energy source, both in the United States and globally. However, industry has been slower to escalate activities to match these policy shifts. We will discuss the reasons for this lag and explore how geoscience can help narrow these gaps, ultimately supporting a society that thrives in a sustainable and economically dynamic state.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-6921

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