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Call for nominations: Geoscience Ambassador of the Year
Accelerating energy transition is essential to address worldwide challenges of climate change globally, encompassing economic, social and environmental aspects. Geoscience underpins our understanding of Earth’s complex systems and will therefore play an important role in meeting these challenges and building a sustainable future. Training the next generation of students and early-career professionals in energy, resource, and engineering geoscience is critical to meeting the climate challenge on the path to Net Zero and for energy security.
To acknowledge the profound significance of early-career Earth scientists, the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) project 769: the Energy Transition Centre for Masters’ Training (CMT) and the GeoNetZero Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) are introducing the inaugural Geoscience Ambassador of the Year Award, as part of their ongoing Geoscience Ambassador Programme - the global campaign for geoscience advocacy in the energy transition. Winners of this award will receive a cash prize in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the field.
Geoscience for sustainable development
Geoscience plays a pivotal role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the context of the global energy transition. ‘This is the most exciting time to be a geologist because you can really make a difference,’ remarked Lisa Rebora, Senior Vice-President of Emerging and Future Business at Equinor, a Norwegian company which is developing carbon capture and storage, during the Healing the Earth conference. ‘Some 80% of energy still comes from fossil fuels. It is going to take every hand on deck to reduce this ratio to 20% by 2050.’
She added that, ‘currently, 65 million people work in the energy sector. By 2050, half are going to have to transition to renewable and low-carbon sources of energy.’ By bridging the gap between energy transition and sustainable development, geoscience emerges as an indispensable tool used to build a more environmentally responsible and resilient future.
Geoscience Ambassador Programme
The Geoscience Ambassador Programme’s mission is to inspire future and current generations of geoscientists to step up to the challenge of communicating the critical and fulfilling role geoscience is playing in supporting the transition of the worlds energy systems to cleaner and more sustainable solutions. In addition, it aims to catalyse the global geoscience community, in collaboration with existing institutions and initiatives and to create a positive ground swell of cooperation. This network is utilised to raise the awareness of new geoscientists, inspire future geoscientists and enrol current ones in supporting the energy transition.
Award eligibility criteria
Youth advocate for geoscience engagement:
To qualify for this award, you must be 35 years of age or younger on 31 December 2023.Geoscientist with a passion for geoscience advocacy:
To be eligible for this award, you must be a dedicated geoscientist who possesses a genuine passion for promoting the significance of geoscience. This means that you have a deep-seated commitment to advancing the understanding and appreciation of geoscience and its critical role in addressing global challenge.Active in outreach to promote geoscience within your region:
Eligible candidates should have a demonstrated track record of actively engaging in outreach activities aimed at promoting geoscience within their respective regions. This involvement signifies that you have taken tangible steps to reach out to communities, schools, or local organizations to raise awareness about the significance of geoscience.Specific examples of geoscience ambassador activities:
As part of your nomination, you are required to provide concrete examples of your geoscience ambassador activities, preferably those linked to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
How to apply?
To apply for this award, eligible nominees are invited to complete the nomination form by 31 December 2023
Winners will be awarded with a financial prize as a symbol of their remarkable contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the field of geoscience.
