ESWA encourages future geologists
Geologists may not be quite as rare as the proverbial dentures of common farmyard fowl but the paucity in their ranks is a concern for the resources industry.
Although the mining industry is a destination of choice for what seems to be just about every job seeker in Australia at the moment, this hasn’t always been the case.
There are plenty of geologists working in the industry today that will tell you that once upon a time, a geology degree was the forerunner to a taxi-driver’s licence due to the lack of employment possibilities for graduates.
The current boom, however, and its predecessor, have raised the resources industry employment stakes with a job, ‘on the mines’, now being a high priority for university graduates.
To ensure that current wave of interest is maintained Earth Science Western Australia (ESWA) is working to strengthen Earth Science education across WA.
ESWA was formed in 2003, with the support of some of the State’s leading educational institutions.
These included Curtin University, the University of Western Australia, CSIRO and the Western Australian Museum.
ESWA has also worked closely with schools across the state to enhance Earth Science education.
“With the main aim of raising the profile of geoscience in Western Australian schools to a level matching the State’s strategic needs, ESWA has sought to tackle this issue through a many pronged attack,” ESWA executive officer, secondary education Jo Watkins told The Roadhouse.
“These include publications like our 520 page full colour textbook, ‘Exploring Earth and Environmental Science Stages 1, 2, and 3.
“This was the first textbook to cater to the West Australian Earth and Environmental Science (EES) curriculum, released early 2011.
“The textbook is supported by, many teaching resources including field guides, programs and worksheets; available in hard copy and also on our website.”
Education Officers deliver educational experiences to students ranging from kindergarten to Year 12.
In the 2010-11 year alone nearly 5000 students accessed the ESWA programs.
ESWA also offers hands-on resources including ‘Do It Yourself’ kits for teachers, which are full of physical resources and lesson ideas.
“Our Geoscientists in Schools program, launched in March of this year, has seen volunteer geoscientists present to over 500 students from Years 8-12, with unanimously positive feedback,” Watkins said.
“The field support fund allows schools to apply for funding to assist them to take their students out into the field, and they may also receive support in planning and running these experiences.
“The many pronged approach continues with; a quarterly newsletter, ongoing research, to guide our work, and student revision seminars, to name a few things.”
For this work to continue to impact upon Earth Science education in Western Australian schools ESWA relies on the generous support of many, including several big name mining companies.
To recognise this ongoing support ESWA has adopted a Corporate Members Program with varying levels of support available.
Annual contribution categories start with the contribution of $1,500 for the Bronze entry-level and move through Silver at $3,500 and over, Gold at $5,500 and over, reaching the final Platinum Level at $11,000 and over.
ESWA’s current Platinum membership base includes:
BHP Billiton, Chamber of Minerals & Energy of WA, CSIRO, Curtin University, Public Education Endowment Trust, the University of Western Australia, and Woodside Energy.
Gold membership has been taken up by:
Anglo American Exploration, Apache Energy, Barrick Gold of Australia, Chevron Australia, Independence Group, Newcrest Mining, Newmont Australia, and Silver Lake Resources.
The Silver member roster contains:
AusIMM and BP Developments Australia.
The Bronze membership comprises generous support from:
Australian Institute of Geoscientists, Digirock, Fugro Airborne Surveys, Geological Society of Australia, Jim Ross, Kingsgate Consolidated, Marcus Harris, Mitsui E&P Australia, PESA, SRK Consulting, Teck Cominco, In-Kind, DMP, Geological Survey of WA, Scitech, STAWA, and the Western Australian Museum.
“Since ESWA started working with schools, in 2006, there has been more than a 17-fold increase in the number of upper school students undertaking studies in Earth Science, more than a six-fold increase in the number of schools offering Earth and Environmental Science and more than an eight-fold increase in the number of students sitting tertiary entrance examinations in Earth Science,” Watkins said proudly.
“Since 2007, ESWA has interacted with more than 12,000 K-12 students in over 200 schools, with more than 1,200 teachers provided with professional development.
“Now that all schools are aware that the new text book is available, it is anticipated that there will be continuing growth in uptake of EES.”
If you’re interested in helping ESWA encourage school students to consider geology as a career click on the logo to find out how.
