Geoscience Canada

Vol. 52 No. 1 (2025)
Articles

Geosciences are Important for Humanity! A Model for Enhancing the Geoscience Narrative across Canada

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  • Katherine Boggs,
  • Benjamin G. Daniels,
  • Courtney Onstad,
  • Alwynne Beaudoin,
  • Stephen Johnston,
  • Dave Eaton,
  • Daniel Lebel,
  • Andrea Waldie,
  • Paul Hubley,
  • Glenn Dolphin,
  • Matthew Kemp,
  • John Ludden,
  • Jean Hsieh,
  • Imad Alainachi,
  • Beth McLarty Halfkenny,
  • Holly Bley
Katherine Boggs
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta, T3E 6K6
Bio
Benjamin G. Daniels
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta, T3E 6K6
Courtney Onstad
Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6
Alwynne Beaudoin
Royal Alberta Museum, 9810 103a Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 0G2
Stephen Johnston
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3
Dave Eaton
Department of Earth, Energy and Environment, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4
Daniel Lebel
Chelsea, Quebec, J9B 2L7
Andrea Waldie
Waldie GeoGovernance, 2644 Spruce Needle Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, L5L 1M9
Paul Hubley
Geoscientists Canada, 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6L4
Glenn Dolphin
Department of Earth, Energy and Environment, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4
Matthew Kemp
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 3AN
John Ludden
KMT, Bjargargata 1, 102 Reykjavík
Jean Hsieh
Sedimentary Geology Consultants, 2033 42 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2T 2M8
Imad Alainachi
80 Yoho Drive, Kanata, Ontario, K2M 2R4
Beth McLarty Halfkenny
Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6
Holly Bley
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta, T3E 6K6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12789/geocanj.2025.52.221

Published 2025-04-11

Keywords

  • Canadian Geoscience Community,
  • Geoscience Communication,
  • Geoscience Outreach,
  • Promote Geosciences

How to Cite

Boggs, K., Daniels, B. G., Onstad, C., Beaudoin, A., Johnston, S., Eaton, D., … Bley, H. (2025). Geosciences are Important for Humanity! A Model for Enhancing the Geoscience Narrative across Canada. Geoscience Canada, 52(1), 49–68. https://doi.org/10.12789/geocanj.2025.52.221
Copyright Notice

Abstract

“Geosciences are important for humanity” is the central message of a model presented to promote the geosciences as essential to the development of Canada and the world. Components of the geosciences directly or indirectly address all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, and geoscientific knowledge is essential in efforts to address climate change. Despite this broad relevance, many Canadians remain unaware of the importance of the geosciences, partly because the discipline is not consistently offered as a standalone high school course in all provinces and territories. The number of students entering undergraduate geology major programs declined by over 40% between 2015 and 2022, and this creates challenges within Canada’s workforce. Currently, gaps in the workforce are filled through immigration, but the federal government is now starting to limit immigration. The seven components of the proposed model include: public engagement to promote the geosciences in varied settings; engagement with politicians and policy makers; engagement with resource and other industries; development and implementation of strategic plans to promote improved awareness of the geosciences; development of public education, outreach and communication programs; promotion of courses and engagement programs at post-secondary institutions; and coordination with geoscience societies and geological surveys. Hosting the International Geological Congress (IGC) 2028 could unite the Canadian geoscience community by strengthening connections between academic geoscientists and government, advocating for a Canadian Research Chair related to geoscience education and outreach, developing an inventory for geoscience education and outreach programs, and exploring creative ways to develop standalone geoscience courses in high school. If all Canadian geoscientists use the model components to emphasize the importance of the geosciences to humanity, we can collectively work towards better public understanding of the relevance of the geosciences to most aspects of life in Canada and improve the future of our vital discipline.

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