Geology & Geophysics

We currently have 23 faculty; many faculty are cross appointed to other departments in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Robert W. Hodder Chair in Economic Geology (Jan. 2010)

Dr. Burns Cheadle,Bill Bell Chair ofPetroleum Geology

Industry has recently provided our department with generous support to appoint two new Chairs

What exactly are the Earth Sciences?

The Earth Sciences necessarily include aspects of all the basic sciences familiar to first year undergraduate students.

Any student with a passion for any of these fields could further their passion in the context of the Earth Sciences.

The diverse fields of science dealing with Earth, its various components and interactions among these components.

Biology

Physics ChemistryMathComp. Sci.

Statistics

Math

Comp.Sci.

Statistics

MathComp. Sci.Statistics

Earth Sciences

First Year Earth Sciences Courses Available to UWO Undergraduates

Open to all students (but geared slightly more to Science students)*

Earth Sciences 1022a/b: Earth Rocks!Earth Sciences 1023a/b: Planet Earth: Shaken and StirredEarth Sciences 1081a/b: Resources, Environment and Sustainability in a Resources, Environment and Sustainability in a

Material Society Material Society Earth Sciences 1083F: Life on Planet Earth

Additional courses open to all students:

Earth Sciences 1086F/G: Origin and Geology of the Solar System Earth Sciences 1088F: A Foundation for Medical and Forensic GeologyEarth Sciences 1089G: Earth, Art and Culture

*Can be used as prerequisites for professional geoscience programs (discussed later)

From a student’s perspective: why should I take a course in Earth Sciences?

The Earth Sciences provide context! Courses in Earth Sciences emphasize how different disciplines of science fit together.

A basic understanding of how Earth works is intrinsic to the ability of an individual to make responsible decisions about his/her own future, the future of society as a whole, and the future of our world.

Taking a first year Earth Sciences course can open up many possibilities for employment (if the student chooses to pursue one of our programs)

From the perspective of the Faculty of Science: why should we encourage students to take a course in Earth Sciences?

SAME REASONS!

So, what’s the problem?

Many Earth Sciences programs across Canada & U.S. (including Western’s) suffer from low enrollments.

This cannot be simply attributed to the Earth Sciences not being interesting to students; students are clearly interested in fields inherent to the Earth Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Sciences, etc., etc.)

The problem is rooted in lack of visibility and accessibility

Biology

Physics ChemistryMathComp Sci

Stats.Math

Comp. Sci.

Stats

MathComp. Sci.Stats.

Earth Sciences

Contributing Factors:

Lack of visibility and accessibility

The importance of the Earth Sciences is not as “close to home” as in other regions of Canada (enrollments are high at institutions such as the University of Calgary)

Stringent requirements of the most highly subscribed program in Science at Western (Bachelor of Medical Science) prevents students from fitting first year courses outside Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math-related disciplines into their schedules

Earth Sciences are not taught in most Ontario highschools (excluded on account of not being considered a “pure science,” and one of the main reasons for our vigorous outreach efforts)

Issues With Existing Programs

Majority of incoming Science students intend to enroll in Bachelor of Medical Sciences program

Entry into Medical Sciences requires full course in: Biology, Chemistry and Math in first year

Physics (with one course equivalent left for non-science option) must be completed by end of second year(nearly all take it in first year)

Plus one non-Science elective

=5.0 courses total

At the same time, exploration industries (mineral and hydrocarbon), and the environmental sector, are extremely concerned with the shortage of Earth Scientists.

A positive result of this concern has been that such industries have been eager to bolster our department’s existing strengths in mineral deposit and petroleum geology to attract world-class students in these fields and are increasingly providing funds to strengthen program enrollment (e.g. for field courses)

Industry contributions have also made possible the establishment of two new Chairs, both of whom will contribute their valuable industry-based knowledge to our undergraduate students, preparing them for employment in these sectors.

Industry-Funded Initiatives

Bill Bell Chair of Petroleum Geology (Dr. Burns Cheadle)

Dr. Robert W. Chair in Economic Geology (to be filled by January, 2010)

Professional Programs

Another strategy to attract geoscience-minded undergraduates to Western has been to introduce 4 year programs specifically designed to satisfy course requirements for professional geoscientist registration.

Why introduce such programs?

Geoscience is a regulated profession in virtually all of Canada.

In eleven of the thirteen provinces and territories, legislative acts restrict the practice of geoscience to individuals who are registered members of (and therefore licensed by) self governing professional associations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Currently, more than 7,600 geoscientists are licensed in Canada and this number is expected to reach 10,000 in the next two or three years.

The Bottom Line: Any individual who wishes to perform activities requiring the knowledge, understanding and application of the principles of geoscience and that concerns the safeguarding of the welfare of the public or the safeguarding of life, health or property including the natural environment, will ultimately be required to become registered as a professional geoscientist. This includes any individual who wishes to pursue a career in geoscience-related industries.

Professional Programs

Professional programs to be offered at Western:

Professional Geology Program Professional Environmental Geoscience Program Professional Geophysics Program

The professional geoscience programs offered at Western will ensure that course requirements for registration with APGO (Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario) and CCPG (the Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists) are met by our students upon completion of their 4 year degree.

Programs are defined outside the modular structure (similar to Engineering programs at Western)

Professional Programs

Admission requirements are similar to our Honors Specialization, Major, and Specialization programs except:

Admission Requirements for Professional Programs

all require a 1st year half course in Earth Sciences

Prof. Geology & Prof. Environmental Geoscience programs require Chem. 1050 and Physics 1020/1024.

Prof. Geophysics program requires Chem. 1050/1024a/b

It is in the best interests of geoscience students wishing to pursue a career in industry to satisfy the course requirements for professional registration, so will these new programs will hopefully attract students specifically to Western….

…However, in the ability of incoming Western Science students (yet undecided in terms of their program) to enter the professional geoscience programs will depend, to a large extent, on their ability to take a first year-level half course in Earth Sciences course.

Changes (in progress):

The proposed splitting of core first year courses in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology will allow students room to take other Science courses (including Earth Sciences and Computer Science).

Some considerations

A Might there be a mutually beneficial way for Science

departments to allow participation in each other’s first year courses (e.g. guest lectures/labs/customized content) without diluting the essential content of the courses?

Possible Benefits:

1. Exposure of students to aspects of scientific disciplines they might not otherwise have been, or will be, introduced to.

2. Impressing upon students the concept that a scientific question can be approached from different angles.

3. Cultivation of a spirit of synergy and interchange among departments in the delivery of first year course material (similar to that which already exists in research).

4. Providing students a taste of the interdisciplinary aspects of science.5. Fulfilling the university’s mission to provide an educational foundation that is

both rigorous and broad.6. Providing less-visible departments a chance to show their wares.

Some considerations

Careers in Earth Sciences are diverse, plentiful and undersubscribed!

A “Profession” in Demand – P.GEO.

Business & FinanceEconomicsLawEngineeringEducationMedicineDentistry

Environmental Consulting Mineral ExplorationOil and GasHydrology & HydrogeologyGovernment (local, provincial, federal)Research

What happens when students in high-demand programs have second thoughts about their chosen career path (or are forced to find an alternative)?

Good alternative career paths exist in the Earth Sciences (including high-salary careers in industry)

The Faculty of Science might consider maximizing existing resources by encouraging the movement of students from high demand programs into lower demand (or visibility) programs with favourable employment opportunities

Faculty of Science might also consider the opportunities in the Earth Sciences that would raise success rates of employment for its students overall?

Some considerations

END OF PRESENTATION

Questions or Suggestions?

Undergraduate Enrollmentin Earth Sciences

at Western

2004-2008

Year

Undergraduate Graduate

Yr 1

3-Yr Prog 4-Yr Prog

Spec Total

Masters Ph.D. CP Total

Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 FT PT FT PT FT FT PT

98/99 0 18 26 1 8 18 3 74 18 2 19 1 - 37 3

99/00 0 11 21 2 3 8 4 49 29 2 18 0 - 47 2

00/01 0 15 13 7 9 8 0 52 26 0 17 0 0 43 0

01/02 0 11 23 11 7 7 0 59 18 1 10 1 0 28 2

02/03 0 12 16 12 16 22 0 78 19 0 11 1 0 30 1

03/04 0 8 17 10 15 22 0 72 26 2 17 2 0 43 4

04/05 0 5 9 13 14 25 0 66 26 0 21 0 0 47 0

05/06 0 2 6 20 21 26 0 75 26 0 24 0 0 50 0

06/07 0 1 3 19 25 26 1 75 22 0 29 0 0 51 0

07/08 0 1 1 27 27 37 0 93 24 1 29 0 0 53 1

Overall Program Enrollment Western - DataBook 2008Faculty: SCIENCEDepartment: EARTH SCIENCES

Office of Institutional Planning & Budgeting Room 23, Stevenson-Lawson Building, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B8 • Tel: 519-661-3536Updated February 27, 2008 by Jimmy Chien

Spec = special student; FT = Full time; PT = Part time(NOTE: Yr 1 = 0 because students are undeclared in their first year at Western)

increase

Earth Sciences enrollment by ProgramProgram 2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 

Academic Year 

Earth Sciences Adv Stud in Earth & Planetary

Minor Module 0 0 2 4 6

Earth & Planetary Sciences Major Module 9 21 22 26 78

Minor Module 2 13 13 18 46

Subtotal 11 34 35 44 124

Earth Sciences 11 34 37 48 130

Geology Environmental Geoscience Specialization Module

1 0 3 6 10

Geology Specialization Module

7 12 18 24 61

Geology & Biology Specialization Module

3 8 6 8 25

Geology 11 20 27 38 96

Geophysics Geophysics Specialization Module

4 6 7 7 24

Minor Module 1 1 3 3 8

Subtotal 5 7 10 10 32

Geophysics 5 7 10 10 32

Earth Sciences 27 61 74 96 258

Increase in all programs

Enrollment in Core Geology CoursesCourse # Title 2005 2006 2007 2008

2200 Plate tectonic processes 38 40 58 83

2201 Structural Geology 30 41 27 41

2206 Mineral Systems, crystal. & optics 31 26 41 37

2230 Geochemistry 15 16 17 33

2260 Stratigraphy & Sedimentology 28 31 33 27

2265 Paleontology 27 31 20 18

2250 Field School 12 21 25 20

3310 Advanced Mineralogy 9 N/A 24 12

3313 Igneous Petrology 11 16 12 20

3314 Sedimentary Petrology 29 20 19 22

3315 Metamorphic Petrology 14 17 N/A 17

3340 Watershed Hydrology 54 61 49 40

3341 Waters & Geochemical Cycles 19 22 19 29

3350 Field School 9 11 15 11

3370 Metallogeny I 7 12 14 16

3371 Metallogeny II N/A 4 2 8

4400 Earth Evolution 8 12 20 N/A

4450 Field School 6 5 5 N/A

4462 Glacial & Quaternary Geology 13 21 26 12

4490 Honours Thesis 14 11 17 11

Enrollment in Core Geophysics Courses

Course # Title 2005 2006 2007 2008

2220 Introductory Geophysics 19 17 12 17

2222 Data Processing N/A N/A N/A 9

3321 Physics of the Earth I 5 10 10 2

3323 Geodesy & Remote Sensing 7 8 2 N/A

4420 Forward & Reverse Modelling 5 N/A 6 N/A

4421 Physics of the Earth II 5 8 7 4

4423 Applied Seismology N/A 10 3 3

4424 Advanced Mineral physics N/A 4 4 3

4451 Field School 6 N/A 5 6

4490 Honours Thesis* 14 11 17 11

* NOTE: These numbers include all students enrolled in an honours thesis, in any module.

Summary• Enrollment in our programs has been increasing!

– From 1999/2000 to present there has been a steady increase in total undergraduate enrollment.

• Western Databook: 49 (1999) to 93 (2008). • People Soft: 27 (2004) to 96 (2008).

• Enrollment has been increasing over time, in all modules!– Highest enrollment is in Geology specialization (24) and major (26)

• Enrollment has increased over time, in many of our Geology courses.– Including geochemistry (2230) and advanced metallogeny (3371).– Plate Tectonic Processes (2200) has 83 students. Our largest 2nd year

enrollment in a decade!

* Data was acquired by Katherine Johnston (Earth Sciences) and Jo Skillings (ITS)