About us

Serving science, profession and society

Our purpose:

The Geological Society supports the work of geoscientists, inspires interest in the physical world, and connects science, profession and society.

Our values: All that we do is underpinned by scientific excellence, professional and ethical integrity, and quality of service.

To that end:

• We strive to be impartial, authoritative, trustworthy and transparent.
• We promote diversity, equality, inclusion and respect for others across the geoscience community.
• We promote social and environmental sustainability, responsibility and stewardship.
• We seek opportunities to work collaboratively, and aim to be recognised as a valued partner.

A home for geoscience: We will promote and support the geosciences and act as the scientific and professional home for an engaged, diverse and inclusive geoscience community

We will do this by:

• Encouraging, celebrating and rewarding excellence and innovation in our science, through our awards, grants and strategic scientific programmes.
• Broadening and growing our membership, and developing our work with students, early career geoscientists and under-represented groups.
• Providing international leadership, influence and collaboration, and promoting the role of geoscience in sustainable global development.

Serving and supporting geoscientists: We will provide services and support for our Fellows and other geoscientists throughout their careers

We will do this by:

• Maintaining excellence in our programme of publications, conferences, library and information services to support the work of all professional geoscientists, drawing on the highest quality science.
• Facilitating communication and access to networks, including through our Specialist and Regional Groups, to sustain our community’s engagement with cutting-edge science and adoption of high professional standards.
• Providing, promoting and endorsing high quality training and continuing professional development (CPD) at all stages of geoscientists’ working lives.

Maintaining standards: We will assure high professional standards in geoscience, for the public benefit

We will do this by:

• Growing and broadening the uptake of Chartered Geologist and other chartered titles, promoting their value across all geoscience sectors, and developing post-Chartership specialist registers.
• Accrediting undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as training schemes, ensuring that accreditation continues to meet the needs of individual geoscientists, education and training providers and other stakeholders.
• Ensuring that professional practice is underpinned by excellent science, through our publishing and meetings programmes.

Trusted voice: We will be the trusted voice of the geoscience community

We will do this by:

• Promoting the use of geoscience research and application to inform policy-making, and ensuring that the Society is the first port of call for those in UK national government and the devolved administrations seeking input from the geoscience community.
• Communicating advances in our science, its application to societal challenges and its relevance to people’s lives through the media.
• Providing a strong, inspiring and unified voice for our science to funders and decision-makers, working with others in the academic community.

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Education and outreach: We will promote geoscience education and share our science widely, to inform public debate and to inspire future geoscientists to address the challenges facing humanity

We will do this by:

• Promoting and supporting the teaching of geoscience in schools (as a standalone subject and through other science subjects and geography), and at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and working with geoscience educators to strengthen diversity, equality and inclusion.
• Working with our Regional Groups to link schools, universities, employers and local geoscience organisations, creating a focus for geoscience education and training in each region of the UK.
• Stimulating public awareness and enthusiasm for geoscience, through public lectures, communication programmes and other engagement initiatives, and providing accessible high-quality information on the geoscience relevant to people’s lives.

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Strengthening our organisation: We will ensure that the Geological Society remains a sustainable, resilient and thriving organisation over a generational timescale, in order to deliver our strategic aims and objectives

We will do this by:

• Strengthening the Society’s finances, by diversifying our income streams as well as protecting and developing existing income streams, and ensuring sound financial management.
• Developing and maximising the effectiveness and engagement of our people –members, staff and the wider geoscience community.
• Optimising the use of our buildings, facilities and other physical assets.