GeoSpectrum

The Effects of the Economic Crisis on Geoscience Departments report provides a snapshot of the impacts of the economic downturn as of March 2009 on geoscience departments within the United States as well as in other countries. The report includes analyses based on institution type and regional analyses for U.S. geoscience departments.

Overall, 83 percent of geoscience departments that responded to the survey expect budget cuts for 2009 and/or 2010. These budget cuts are expected to impact faculty (reductions and hiring freezes) and support activities (IT, lab equipment, etc.) the most. Graduate student admission and graduate student support will be least impacted. Although the majority of departments expect to be viable beyond the next three years, several U.S. departments indicated that their future was “definitely” or “immediately” threatened by the impacts of the economic downturn.

Read more about how geoscience departments are weathering the economic downturn by downloading the report from the Geoscience Workforce Program’s Reports page: http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/data.html.

Geoscience Currents #18 explores the trends in employment for new geoscience Ph.D. graduates. Since 1996, the majority of new geoscience Ph.D. graduates have entered into academic positions (both post-doctoral and non-postdoctoral). Of note, is the increase in new geoscience Ph.D. recipients taking academic post-doctoral positions since 2000. Read more about this geoscience data snapshot on the Geoscience Currents page.

Geoscience Currents #17 discusses the link between geoscience degree completion rates and current events. A common assertion is that the number of geoscience degrees granted is dependent on the price of oil. However, this metric requires a response lag greater than oil price change velocity. A more responsive mechanism would likely be the rate of degree completion – that students would be incentivized to complete their geoscience degree by improved economic prospects. Degree completion rates do show sensitivity to current events. Read more about this geoscience data snapshot on the Geoscience Currents page.

AGI Geoscience Workforce analyst, Leila Gonzales presented a Betty Vetter Research Seminar on October 22, 2008. Gonzales’ presentation “Tracking the Dynamics of the Geoscience Workforce” focused on the earth science education requirements in grades K-12 nationwide, enrollment trends in the geosciences at U.S. colleges and universities, career and salary paths of those with geosciences degrees, diversity issues, and most importantly the increased demand in geosciences workforce versus the stagnant growth in the number of students majoring in the geosciences.

The seminar was held at the American Association for the Advancement of Science building located in Washington, D.C., The Betty Vetter Research Seminar series is sponsored by the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology and takes place monthly.

Click here to view the talk: “Tracking the Dynamics of the Geoscience Workforce”- Betty Vetter Research Seminar October 22, 2008

Geoscience Currents #16 presents data from federal sources, professional societies, and industry that indicate an imbalance in the age distribution of geoscientists in the profession. The percentage of geoscientists between 31 and 35 years of age is less than half of geoscientists between 51-55 years old. Read more in Geoscience Currents #16: Geoscience Workforce Age Distribution.

Geoscience Currents #15 investigates the distribution of under-represented minorities in the United States and the distribution of universities with geoscience departments.  States where under-represented minorities make up more than 35% of the population typically have a larger number of 4-year degree-granting institutions. However, less than half of those schools offer geoscience degrees. Read more in Geoscience Currents #15: Under-Represented Minorities and Geoscience Departments.