Transcript GSA2011 - American Geosciences Institute

Christopher Keane, Leila Gonzales, Heather Houlton
American Geosciences Institute
10 October 2011
something to contribute, among
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Sure, we have
others….
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Scale is a challenge. Geoscience contribution to
US GDP was 0.3% in 2010…
We need to punch
above our weight
The ideal
science for the 21st Century?
First Issue
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Today’s middle school student will be the
person in your seat in 2050
There 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
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The U.S. will be
geosciences
majority minority. Will the
get it right?
Second Issue
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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 but exports talent
Largely is pr
nt talent domestically
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125,000 geoscientists expected to retire
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72,000 geoscience job growth by 2021 (BLS)
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15,000 total new graduates over the next 10 years
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Or 45,000 total new graduates if you hire B.S. level
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Net deficit of over 150,000 by 2021
Third Issue
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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 practice

In non-resource economies…
 Geoscience is encompassing
 Licensure is required unevenly
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In general, licensure
are efforts to help
is not transferrable – but there
Licensure requirements can inhibit the rise of the
journeyman geoscientist
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Nationality can become irrelevant, but the right to
practice remains critical
Fourth Issue
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Decrease student attrition
Import talent
 This isn’t Information Technology….
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Expand domestic capacity
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Substitution 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
honest about scale and scope
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Be
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Recognize where workforce processes are working
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Build involvement by the broad community in the civil
society of the profession
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Recognize the time lag of change – build
for the second
next generation to see through real change