A person in a Geology for Global Development hoodie looking at a drawing of the Earth
Geology for Global Development

About

Welcome to Geology for Global Development’s blog.

Geology for Global Development (GfGD) is a not-for profit organisation that recognises the significant contribution good geoscience can make to the fight against global poverty and the improvement of lives across the world. Our work is primarily with young geoscientists and is currently based in the UK, but with plans to expand internationally.

Good geoscience is essential to many of today’s global development challenges – a knowledge of geohazards, climate change, sustainable mining, hydrogeology, geotechnics, contaminant geology and agrogeology can inform and improve sustainable development, access and responsible management of natural resources, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, health and food security.

With these significant opportunities for our subject to make a positive contribution to society, in particular the lives of some of the world’s poorest communities, we are working to better equip young geoscientists to play a bigger and more effective role within international development.

We are working to…

  1. Utilise experience and expertise in the wider geoscience community to alert young geoscientists to their role and responsibility in contributing to sustainable and effective development, particularly in the developing world.
  2. Promote the positive international outcomes that can come from improving the experience base of young geoscientists, to politicians, policy-makers, industry, commerce, the media and the general public.
  3. Improve opportunities for young geoscientists to develop understanding, inter-personal and communication skills, in order to promote both better cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary work.
  4. Establish opportunities for young geoscientists to gain practical work experience in the development sector and developing countries.

 

This blog aims to discuss, promote and broaden understanding of the contribution geoscientists can make to development. Through our articles and discussion we hope to support both young and more experienced geoscientists in the growth of appropriate skills and knowledge, including both technical geoscience and ‘soft’ social development understanding. If you would like to contribute to this blog, writing guest posts or sharing photographs from fieldwork, please get in contact with GfGD, via their website.

Find out more about the work of Geology for Global Development at www.gfgd.org. To read our archive of posts, please visit the old blog page at www.geo-development.blogspot.com.

The opinions expressed in the Geology for Global Development blog are those of the authors, whose views may differ from those of the European Geosciences Union.

About EGU

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is the leading organisation for Earth, planetary and space science research in Europe. With our partner organisations worldwide, we foster fundamental geoscience research, alongside applied research that addresses key societal and environmental challenges. Our vision is to realise a sustainable and just future for humanity and for the planet.

It is a non-profit international union of scientists with about 23,500 members from all over the world. Membership is open to individuals who are professionally engaged in or associated with geosciences and planetary and space sciences and related studies, including students and retired seniors.

The EGU publishes a number of diverse scientific journals, which use an innovative open access format, and organises topical meetings, and education and outreach activities. It also honours scientists with a number of awards and medals. The annual EGU General Assembly is the largest and most prominent European geosciences event, attracting over 22,000 scientists from all over the world in the year 2026. The meeting’s sessions cover a wide range of topics, including volcanology, planetary exploration, the Earth’s internal structure and atmosphere, climate, as well as energy and resources.

The EGU was established in September 2002 as a merger of the European Geophysical Society (EGS) and the European Union of Geosciences (EUG), and has headquarters in Munich, Germany.