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Geoscience is the study of the earth’s history and how it functions and interacts with the surrounding biospheres. Geoscientists study the earth’s many different facets, including its geological composition, processes, and history.
Their primary way of doing this is often through planning and conducting studies in the field, which involves travelling to a specific location and collecting samples. Geoscientists then analyse these samples and share their findings with any interested parties, as well as other scientists. Sometimes, they use other tools like aerial photographs or drilling records to help locate deposits of oil, precious gems, and other resources.
People with geoscience expertise can be found in many parts of the workforce. If there is a job out there with inputs from or effects on Earth or the environment, then there is a geoscientist somewhere filling that role. Just to name a few, there are geoscience professionals in all the following fields, and more: Natural resource exploration and production; environmental assessment and remediation; atmosphere, hydrosphere, and natural hazard observation and forecasting; Earth system investigation and modelling; education and public outreach; scientific writing, editing, and multimedia production; law, forensics, software development, and public health.
Importantly, considering that Africa has a wealth base that is hinged on natural resources exploitation, one cannot but recognise the pivotal importance of the geoscientific vocation. More so, in a global economy that is now knowledge-based where our continent has yet to catch up, we have no choice but to seek for the best options before us regarding extraction of our well-endowed ecosystem.
This is why it is good news that the Geological Society of Africa and the International Association for Promoting Geoethics signed an agreement for cooperation last week, on November 19. The agreement expresses a mutual desire to cooperate on a range of themes in the field of geoethics. It helps to assure a continued IAPG-GSAF cooperation and coordination on issues of common interests in Africa, particularly in theoretical aspects of geoethics; analyses of geoethical problems and dilemmas (also through case-studies); co-organisation of scientific events on geoethics; and production of relevant publications.
Both organisations will establish a liaison to ensure good information flow and cooperation, and have agreed: To promote joint initiatives and events in Africa on themes of common interest through their webpages, social networks, and publications; To foster cooperation in projects and activities on themes of common interest; When appropriate, involve respectively GSAf and IAPG in their publications and in scientific meetings/congresses on ethics, geoethics and philosophy of geosciences organised by GSAf and IAPG; To include their logos in the respective websites with the URL.
However, in my opinion, the most important aspect of this new partnership is the fact that the Geological Society of Africa agrees to support the “Cape Town Statement on Geoethics” which is the pivotal document for the emerging global practice of geoethics; and also agrees to be included in the list of 25 supporting organisations of the statement. The document contains the Geoethical Promise – a Hippocratic-like oath for geoscientists (https://www.geoethics.org/ctsg). I believe African geoscientists should be guided by this.
For the avoidance of doubt, the GSAf is very important organisation for the continent because of its professional status in the area of resource exploitation. It was established in 1973 to encourage geoscientific collaboration and collaboration and cooperation across the continent. Its main objectives are: to promote understanding of the Earth sciences and improve standards of Earth science education and research in Africa; to provide a forum for discussion and dissemination of information across national boundaries between scientists, associations and institutions engaged in African geology and earth resources; to promote the development and sustainable management of the continent’s earth resources, to advance its socio-economic development; and to improve natural hazards assessment and disaster mitigation.
According to the IAPG, the concepts, values and views on individual responsibilities of geoscientists, expressed in the “Cape Town Statement on Geoethics” reflect an international consensus. The statement aims to capture the attention of geoscientists and organisations, and to stimulate them to improve their shared policies, guidelines, strategies and tools to ensure they consciously embrace (geo)ethical professional conduct in their work.
Geosciences have major impacts on the functioning and knowledge-base of modern societies. Geoscientists have specific knowledge and skills, which are required to investigate, manage and intervene in various components of the Earth system to support human life and well-being, to defend people against geohazards and to ensure natural resources are managed and used sustainably. This entails ethical obligations.
Therefore, geoscientists must embrace ethical values in order to best serve the public good. Geoethics is an emerging subject, which promotes a way of thinking and practicing geosciences, within the wider context of the roles of geoscientists interacting with colleagues, society and the planet. Only by guaranteeing the intellectual freedom of researchers and practitioners to explore and discover in the Earth system, is it possible for geoscientists to follow ethical approaches in their work. Likewise, only by increasing researchers’ and practitioners’ awareness of the ethical implications of their work is it possible to develop excellent geoscience to serve society and to reduce the human impact on the environment.
Embracing geoethics is essential: to improve both the quality of professional work and the credibility of geoscientists, to foster excellence in geosciences, to assure sustainable benefits for communities, as well as to protect local and global environments; all with the aim of creating and maintaining the conditions for the healthy and prosperous development of future generations.
It is essential to enrich the roles and responsibilities of geoscientists towards communities and the environments in which they dwell, as well as paying attention to each scientist’s individual conscience and relationships with colleagues. Human communities will face great environmental challenges in the future. Geoscientists have know-how that is essential to orientate societies towards more sustainable practices in our conscious interactions with the Earth system.
Applying a wider knowledge-base than natural sciences, geoscientists need to take multidisciplinary approaches to economic and environmental problems, embracing geoethical and social perspectives. Geoscientists are primarily at the service of society. This is the deeper purpose of their activity.
In the coming years, especially when addressing matters like energy supply, use of geo-resources, land management, pollution abatement, mitigation of geo-risks, and climate change adaptation and mitigation, ethical and social issues will be central in scientific discussion and in public debate. In addition, handling large quantities of data, science and risk communication, education strategies, issues of research integrity, anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies, gender balance and inclusion of those living with disabilities will be major topics for geoscientists.
Raising the geoethical awareness and competences of the members of the geoscience community is essential, also to increase trust and credibility among the public. This can best be achieved in the near future by two means: by promoting more effectively existing guidance such as codes of ethics/conduct and research integrity statements; and by introducing geoethics into geosciences curricula, to make geoethics a basic feature of the training and professional activity of geoscientists.
This is why Africa should not only take advantage of this new partnership to save our continental ecosystem, but also to take the lead in the new field of geoethics. The education sector, from primary to the tertiary levels, needs to imbibe the geoethical knowledge. The international oil companies that operate in our shores must mainstream the geoethical culture. Indeed, every eco-related government agency, company, institution and research entity must establish a “Geoethics Desk” as a matter of policy. This will raise a banner in Africa for the world to march towards a sustainable future.
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