Liam O’Flynn, senior geoscientist at OPC, recently attended the launch of the ‘This is Geoscience’ initiative, a new campaign led by the Geological Society to engage 14–18-year-olds in the wide-ranging world of geoscience.
Hosted at the Geological Society’s Burlington House headquarters in London, the event brought together professionals from across the geoscience spectrum including energy businesses such as Equinor and ExxonMobil as well as members from the Nuclear Waste Agency and the European Space Agency.
“It was inspiring to see such a wide range of disciplines come together,” Liam shared. “From space exploration to energy, environmental services to academia. The message was clear: geoscience is everywhere.”
Expanding Career Horizons in Geoscience
With over 500 people joining online and in person, the event highlighted the momentum behind modernising the narrative around geoscience. One particular point of focus was the move away from using ‘geology’ alone – shifting instead to ‘geoscience’ to reflect a broader, more inclusive field.
“Geoscience touches every part of the energy transition, from carbon storage to resource management. And the starting salary for graduates is 20% above the median in the UK yet many young people simply don’t know the opportunity exists.”
He also welcomed efforts to show that careers in geoscience are not limited to fieldwork:
“There are opportunities for people who want to work in data, in policy, in tech, or from the lab. This isn’t just a muddy boots profession.”
Building the Next Generation of Geoscientists
OPC supports this initiative not only through Liam’s personal involvement but also through its commitment to supporting graduate recruitment, mentoring, and knowledge sharing across the industry.
A promising outcome from the event was the potential collaboration between the AAPG YPs (where Liam serves as networking manager) and the Geological Society’s Early Career Network – setting the stage for a stronger voice for young professionals in geoscience.
Interested in hearing more from Liam about the opportunities in geoscience or learning how OPC supports the next generation of talent, get in touch with him below.
Connect with Liam on LinkedIn
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