Christopher Keane American Geosciences Institute 23 May 2012

First Geoscience Century Driven on resource development to support economic development Second Geoscience Century Still about resource development Now about stewardship, efficiency, adaptation, transition bridging…

Quantity and Quality of Supply What are the Future Jobs Case Examples of Self- Defeat Opportunities and Challenges

Source: AGI's Directory of GeoscienceDepartments

United States: 250,000 geoscientists Russia: 80,000 geoscientists Europe: 60,000 geoscientists China: 40,000 geoscientists Canada: 30,000 geoscientists Africa: ~15,000 geoscientists South America: Unknown Middle East: Unknown  Iraq: 5,000 India: Unknown

The pews are full, but are the lights on?

M e a n S A T S c o r e All Test Takers Biology Chemistry Physics Geology, Earth or Space Science Source: AGI Geoscience WorkforceProgram, data derived from the College BoardCollege-Bound Seniors, Total Group Report,

M e a n S A T S c o r e All Test Takers Biology Chemistry Physics Geology, Earth, or Space Science Source: AGI Geoscience WorkforceProgram, data derived from the College BoardCollege-Bound Seniors, Total Group Report,

JOBS

Managing waste from the development of an alternative fuel source? Wastewater injection well development and management in support of hydrofracking doesn’t seem to have the “pop creds….”

Geo carbon sequestration… reservoir characterization Pump storage strategies… mining engineering Wind/solar planning… physical geography/geomorph/ surveying/land planning Not to mention working on sustainable/environmentally effective resource development…. Its about problem solving

125,000 geoscientists expected to retire 72,000 geoscience job growth by 2018 (BLS) 15,000 total new graduates over the next 10 years Or 45,000 total new graduates if you hire B.S. level Net deficit of over 150,000 by 2021

40,500 are expected in Environmental Engineering and Sciences as a field What’s Driving it? Water and operations management in support of Resource Development

Government? Good will and pressure of the public? Nope. Private sector. Yep. Liability. They continue to pay for sins of 2+ generations ago, they don’t want those in the future Longevity. Resource and social mixes change, so must companies Growth. New sales are in China, India, and Africa, but they need a middle class

The future is the Consulting Industry. Traditional industries expect only replacement demand. They will do work for oil & gas, mining, and environmental/alt energy, etc Over 50% of geoscientists in 2021 will work in the consulting field. 3% in academia; 26% in government (local & state)

“We see the difference in unemployment between people who invent computer technology as opposed to people who use computer technology….” Users have an 11% unemployment rate while inventors are around 6% - Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce

Employers want: Solid math and applied problem solving skills Solution-oriented focus Employers are finding, in general: Little to no math past Calc 2 and fine conceptual skills, but not integrative outside of science Problem definers, not solvers

What is the “engineering” and economic aptitude of your graduates? Can they tell you what the problem is? Or can they tell you a reasonable, realistic solution?

The leading complaint of employers Because…. They are not sufficiently numerate, applied, possess an economic framework, are not mobile, and seem to be holding out for a management position

Environmental Consulting Employer has 4 positions, lots of work in water issues. Finds 1 MS with diff eq., 3 BS in env science and little math. MS thrives, promoted to lead projects in 3 years. BS are left to sample collection and fired after 3 years because they are too expensive. Really doing AA level work.

7 MS graduates from a well-known midwest university – only 1 takes a job. The employed moved 700 miles from the school. 4 unemployed unwilling to live away from a major city. 2 unemployed can’t land job because their program ≠ the needed skills portfolio

Environmental/Hydro Economic Geology Geochemistry Geophysics Igneous/Metamorphic Stratigraphy/Paleo Sedimentary Geology Structure/Tectonics Other Number of Theses and Dissertations AGI 1991

Loss of faculty in competency areas Existing Experienced Practitioners Lull the 15-year question Without alignment to tenure/promotion, no incentive What happens when capacity building collapses?

Best assessment is 20% of US Geoscience Activity is entrepreneurial in nature The labor gap is FTEs, not people Opportunity for efficiency and rewards Solve the world’s problems through tech transfer Sell new, economical, efficient approaches Address issues of economic and social justice on DC/LDC gap