In many regards, the geosciences have seldom seen a period as interesting and exciting as today.  Or one filled with so much uncertainty.   Opportunities for advancing our understanding of the complexity and inter-relationships of earth systems have never been better, or arguably as important.  At the same time, major challenges and turbulence surround the geoscience profession due to the effects of globalization, a sea-change in the energy industry, and the transformation of the R&D system.

Some key factors encompass the various combinations of opportunity, challenge, and turbulence:

Science and Technology:

• Multi-disciplinary systems approaches emerge to complex geoscience problems.
• New measurements, data, and analysis capabilities grow.
• Information technology, biotechnology, and materials sciences continue to lead the breakthroughs.

• Globalization of resources, markets, and technology creates both opportunities and challenges.
• The third major shift in 25 years is under way in the energy industry, traditionally the largest employer of geoscientists.
• Performance expectations for all industries and economies continue to rise.

• The transformation of the R&D system impacts academic, industrial, and governmental research communities.
• Demographics shifts propagate through the geoscience profession and employment base.
• The “networked world” is fundamentally altering professions and businesses – will this happen in the geosciences too?

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