Geoscience Institute

Geoscience WorkforceAre We Competitive? : 

Geoscience WorkforceAre We Competitive? Christopher M. Keane American Geological Institute October 2007 AGI Council Meeting Denver CO

What Do We Know : 

What Do We Know

Where we are today… : 

Where we are today… 50% of geoscience highest degree earners do NOT work as geoscientists 50% of working geoscientists do NOT have their highest degree in geosciences Functionally no unemployment of MS & Ph.D.s Rapid new hire demand Employer dissatisfaction with new hires

The Enrollment Rollercoaster1955-2005 : 

The Enrollment Rollercoaster1955-2005 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 Majors Undergraduate Graduate

Newly Minted Geoscientists : 

Newly Minted Geoscientists 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 B.S. M.S. Ph.D.

Female Geoscience Enrollment and Degrees 1974-2004 : 

Female Geoscience Enrollment and Degrees 1974-2004 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 Year Percent Female Enrolled Graduated 2004 50

US Geoscience Employment : 

US Geoscience Employment NSF/AGI/BLS 2005 1986

Student Attitudes and Careers2005 : 

Student Attitudes and Careers2005 AGI Student Advisor

Mean Salaries2005 : 

Mean Salaries2005 Geologists Petroleum $107K Mining $69K Finance $84K Consulting $68K Academia $58K Government Federal $86K State $51K Local $62K Hydrologists Consulting $65K Academia $57K Government Federal $75K State $52K Local $63K BLS

Internal Challenges : 

Internal Challenges

Attrition Math : 

Attrition Math Attrition Math 340,000 Intro Geo Students 6,000 New Geo Majors Per Year 2,700 New Geo BS Degrees Per Year 13% of BS geology recipients go on to a career in the geosciences

What about these BS New Hires? : 

What about these BS New Hires? Substantial hiring of new geology/env. science BS recipients What are their REAL future prospects? Professional geoscientist? Starbucks Barista? Wal-Mart Greeter? Is the profession serving them honestly?

Race and Gender – the future? : 

Race and Gender – the future? Gender Females now dominate at the university Geoscience second at attracting women Industry discontinuing female preferences Race Minorities tend not to move for college Few geo programs near minority areas Most come through Community Colleges Lack of cultural continuity

US Departmental Inbalance? : 

US Departmental Inbalance? There are 602 BS-granting geo departments Physics has fewer than 300…. Chemistry has 1100… Average of <5 grads per year per department There are 379 MS-granting geo departments 75% of MS degrees come from 10 programs Average of 1 grad per year per department There are 268 Ph.D.-granting geo departments 58% of new Ph.D.s go into a Post Doc…. Average of 1 grad per year per department

External Challenges : 

External Challenges

Top Students, Smart Choices : 

Top Students, Smart Choices Top students choose certainty Medicine, Law, and Business ~17% STEM BS grads go to professional school High entrance requirements Fixed exit from graduate school High completion rate High economic return Science & Engineering ~10% STEM BS grads continue in STEM areas Lower entrance requirements Vague completion timeframe Low graduation rates Unattractive earning potential Zumeta & Raveling, 2002

Student Interest vs. Opportunity : 

Student Interest vs. Opportunity Hostility towards private sector Source of bulk of opportunities “Environmental Awareness” Student interest declines precipitously Preference for government Little to no hiring growth 29% of students intend to look at “non-traditional” careers

Why Do Students Choose a Field? : 

Why Do Students Choose a Field? Self-Efficacy Work towards tangible success Make the class attractive and applied Outcome Expectations Promote rewards of the success Social & Intellectual Standing Interest Align with interests and currency Be innovative Make success attainable Akbulut & Looney, ACM Communications, October 2007

Becoming CompetititveAGI's Workforce Initiative : 

Becoming CompetititveAGI's Workforce Initiative

Improve our Intelligence Portfolio : 

Improve our Intelligence Portfolio US Government data collection is modeled after manufacturing Working with Labor/Commerce reform efforts Track economic indicators and analyze for potential leading indicators Rapid information dissemination

Engage at the Decision Point : 

Engage at the Decision Point K-10 Covered by AGI Curricula Majors and Grad Students Covered by Societies and Departments Career Decision Point is 11th grade to Sophomore year! We have a vacuum

Engage the Audience Correctly : 

Engage the Audience Correctly Immerse in current networking methods Facebook, etc. Communicate relevantly Use social context Avoid subdisciplines and industry boundaries Recognize importance of parents Hit their need to succeed Engage as a professional from day 1, not after the Ph.D.

Promote through Varied Media : 

Promote through Varied Media Print pieces Parents/counselors/students Editable media Templates with content that can be modified by societies, departments, etc. Video/Audio Engage in “recreational venues” Utilize existing vetted resources like Faces of Earth and Geotimes Remain flexible in format and style

Student Professional Development : 

Student Professional Development Engage from day 1 as a professional Develop & Promote Scholarships/Aid “Welcome Packets” to new majors/prospects Enable multiple society memberships Compete with the outside, not each other Promote internships at all levels

Conclusion : 

Conclusion AGI leverages its strengths Wide and deep K-12 presence Mass media experience Popular communications History of data collection/analysis Societies leverage their strengths Bring the profession to the student Key to link students to their future Departments “Set the hook” on interested students