Out of Boom and Bust, Out of Boom and Bust, but Where now for Geoscience but Where now for Geoscience

DepartmentsDepartments

Christopher M. KeaneChristopher M. KeaneAmerican Geological InstituteAmerican Geological Institute

December 5, 2005December 5, 2005AGU Annual MeetingAGU Annual Meeting

Departmental HealthDepartmental Health

Strong employment prospectsStrong employment prospects Economic growth across sectorsEconomic growth across sectors Steady human resource pipelineSteady human resource pipeline Public acknowledgementPublic acknowledgement University departments are lynchpin University departments are lynchpin

in the supply chainin the supply chain

How are the geosciences doing?How are the geosciences doing?

How do we define doing “well”How do we define doing “well”

Probably are doing better than expected!Probably are doing better than expected!

Biggest question is “market Biggest question is “market rationalization”rationalization”

Is our perspective domestic or global?Is our perspective domestic or global?

What changes are afoot?What changes are afoot?

Statistical Profile of Statistical Profile of Academic GeoscienceAcademic Geoscience

Geoscience Enrollments Geoscience Enrollments in the United Statesin the United States1955-20031955-2003

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

195

5

195

7

195

9

196

1

196

3

196

5

196

7

196

9

197

1

197

3

197

5

197

7

197

9

198

1

198

3

198

5

198

7

198

9

199

1

199

3

199

5

199

7

199

9

200

1

200

3

Year

Maj

ors

Total UG

Solid Earth UG

Total Graduate Solid Earth Graduate

Geoscience Degrees Geoscience Degrees AwardedAwardedin the United Statesin the United States1973-20051973-2005

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

197

3

197

5

197

7

197

9

198

1

198

3

198

5

198

7

198

9

199

1

199

3

199

5

199

7

199

9

200

1

200

3

200

5

Year

Deg

rees

B.S.

M.S.

Ph.D.

Introductory Geoscience EnrollmentsIntroductory Geoscience Enrollments 20052005

Totals from AGI Survey on US Enrollment in intro Totals from AGI Survey on US Enrollment in intro geosciencegeoscience 148,486 in Physical Geology or equiv.148,486 in Physical Geology or equiv. 39,080 in Environmental Geology39,080 in Environmental Geology 3,412 in National Park Geology3,412 in National Park Geology

Publishers cite ~225,000 intro geoscience books Publishers cite ~225,000 intro geoscience books per yearper year

With 52% response rate, publisher’s numbers are With 52% response rate, publisher’s numbers are probably reasonable estimatesprobably reasonable estimates

Female Geoscience Enrollment and Female Geoscience Enrollment and DegreesDegrees 1974-20041974-2004

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Year

Per

cen

t F

emal

e

Enrolled

Graduated

2004

50

Geoscience Theses & Dissertation TopicsGeoscience Theses & Dissertation Topics1950s vs 1980s1950s vs 1980s

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000

Environmental/Hydro

Economic Geology

Geochemistry

Geophysics

Igneous/Metamorphic

Stratigraphy/Paleo

Sedimentary Geology

Structure/Tectonics

Other

Number of Theses and Dissertations

1950-591980-89

AGI 1991

Geoscience Faculty SpecialtiesGeoscience Faculty Specialties1970-19971970-1997

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Environmental

Petrology

Structure

Economic

Geochemistry

Geophysics

Paleontology

Oceanography

General

Nu

mb

er o

f F

acu

lty

Rep

ort

ing

Year # of Depts1970 6981980 7041990 8871997 915

AGI 1997

Departmental “Focus”Departmental “Focus”U.S. BS-Degree GrantingU.S. BS-Degree Granting

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1980 1990 2000

Year

De

pa

rtm

en

ts

Solid Earth

Environmental

Physical Science

Departmental “Focus”Departmental “Focus”U.S. Ph.D.-Degree GrantingU.S. Ph.D.-Degree Granting

0

50

100

150

200

250

1980 1990 2000

Year

Dep

artm

ents Solid-Earth

Environmental

Physical Science

Degree-Granting DiversityDegree-Granting Diversity

1980 1990 2000Departments granting over 25% of all degrees

Departments granting the second quartile of all degrees

Departments granting the second half of all degrees

BS BS BS

MS MS MS

Ph.D. Ph.D. Ph.D.

100 DepartmentsSource: AGI/GeoRef

Diversity of Faculty OriginsDiversity of Faculty Origins

All-Time DiversityAll-Time Diversity 50% of Faculty graduated from 40 Departments50% of Faculty graduated from 40 Departments 25% of Faculty graduated from 12 Departments25% of Faculty graduated from 12 Departments

19801980 50% - 39 Departments50% - 39 Departments 25% - 12 Departments25% - 12 Departments

19901990 50% - 40 Departments50% - 40 Departments 25% - 13 Departments25% - 13 Departments

20002000 50% - 39 Departments50% - 39 Departments 25% - 12 Departments25% - 12 Departments

Graduate Schools of FacultyGraduate Schools of FacultyFirst quartile of productionFirst quartile of production

All-TimeAll-Time1.1. California (Berkeley)California (Berkeley)2.2. MITMIT3.3. ColumbiaColumbia4.4. WashingtonWashington5.5. WisconsinWisconsin6.6. StanfordStanford7.7. Penn StatePenn State8.8. IllinoisIllinois9.9. ArizonaArizona10.10. HarvardHarvard11.11. California (Los Angeles)California (Los Angeles)12.12. MichiganMichigan

200020001.1. ArizonaArizona2.2. MITMIT3.3. TexasTexas4.4. ColumbiaColumbia5.5. WisconsinWisconsin6.6. GeorgiaGeorgia7.7. MinnesotaMinnesota8.8. StanfordStanford9.9. DelawareDelaware10.10. California (Los Angeles)California (Los Angeles)11.11. MichiganMichigan12.12. FloridaFlorida

How does this reflect How does this reflect “out there”“out there”

The statistics for the The statistics for the other 95% of the other 95% of the

geoscience economygeoscience economy

The Geoscience EconomyThe Geoscience Economy

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

120.00

140.00

160.00

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

Year

Bil

lio

ns

of

Do

lla

rs

Oil/GasEnvironmentalAcademic R&DCoalMiningFed R&D

Source: US BEA/NSF

Occupations of Geoscience Degree Occupations of Geoscience Degree HoldersHolders 19931993

Business14%

Insurance3%

Env/Civil Eng3%

Agriculture3%

Other Sci & Eng4%

Legal1%

Finance1%

Medical1%

Higher Ed5%

Geosciences35%

K12 Ed4%

Technology5%

Sci/Eng Tech6%

OTHER15%

NSF, 1993

Degree Fields for Working GeoscientistsDegree Fields for Working Geoscientists19931993

Geoscience80%

Law0%

Business/Finance1%

Agriculture3%

Other Phys. Sci2%

Engineering8%

Mathematics2%

Bioscience2%

Geography2%

NSF, 1993

US Geoscience EmploymentUS Geoscience EmploymentAGI Demographic Survey 1986AGI Demographic Survey 1986

Academic7%

Government12%

Petroleum50%

Mining9%

Environmental7%

Retired/Unemployed10%

Other5%

Total Population 120,000

US Geoscience EmploymentUS Geoscience EmploymentNSF National Survey of College Graduates 1993NSF National Survey of College Graduates 1993

Petroleum34%Mining

7%Environment

12%

Government12%

Retired/Unemployed23%

Academic11%

Total Population 125,000

US Geoscience EmploymentUS Geoscience EmploymentAGI Demographic Survey 2000AGI Demographic Survey 2000

Petroleum

30%

Mining

8%

Environmental

14%

Government

16%

Academia

20%

Unemployed/Retired6%

Other

6%

Geoscience Bachelor’s DegreeGeoscience Bachelor’s Degree

Over 50% of Geoscience BS recipients go Over 50% of Geoscience BS recipients go

onto other fieldsonto other fields

Employment value of BS in the Employment value of BS in the

Geosciences is far below other physical Geosciences is far below other physical

sciences and engineeringsciences and engineering

Sources: AGI, 2002, AIP, 2003

Geoscience Master’s DegreeGeoscience Master’s Degree

Degree of choice for employmentDegree of choice for employment Unique in the physical sciencesUnique in the physical sciences

Salary Range is $25K-$69KSalary Range is $25K-$69K Mean salary is $38KMean salary is $38K 0.5% failed to find employment upon 0.5% failed to find employment upon

graduationgraduation 82% of programs focus on Ph.D. 82% of programs focus on Ph.D.

preparation, yet….preparation, yet…. Only 28% go on to Ph.D. programOnly 28% go on to Ph.D. program

Sources: AGI, 2003

Geoscience Ph.D. DegreeGeoscience Ph.D. Degree

Excellent employment and job satisfactionExcellent employment and job satisfaction >97% find suitable employment>97% find suitable employment

54% going onto PostDocs54% going onto PostDocs Wide range of average salariesWide range of average salaries

$35K for PostDoc$35K for PostDoc $42K for Faculty position$42K for Faculty position $49K for Government$49K for Government $69K for Industry$69K for Industry

Sources: AGI/AGU, 2003

Future DirectionsFuture Directions

Defining B.S. Degree as “liberal” science Defining B.S. Degree as “liberal” science

degreedegree

Better develop MS programs as Better develop MS programs as

professionally preparatoryprofessionally preparatory

Provide opportunities at Ph.D. level for Provide opportunities at Ph.D. level for

non-traditional careersnon-traditional careers

What is the role of departments?What is the role of departments?

Train for careers in the geosciencesTrain for careers in the geosciences Core departments do this wellCore departments do this well Professional opportunities are not unlimitedProfessional opportunities are not unlimited

Educate the broad publicEducate the broad public 4-year programs do this well4-year programs do this well Is this sufficient value to administrators?Is this sufficient value to administrators?

Provide support services for university Provide support services for university communitycommunity Does existing in the shadows avoid targeting Does existing in the shadows avoid targeting

or make one expendableor make one expendable