El DOSSIER DE "EL GEÓLOGO ELECTRÓNICO" 

  EUROGEOPAGES  

Newsletter of the 
Fédération Européenne des Géologues 
European Federation of Geologists 
Federación Europea de Geólogos 

The EFG gratefully acknowledges sponsorship of this newsletter by the Finnish Union of Environmental Professionals 

table of contents: 
A Word from the President   
Member country reports  
European observer countries   
Fraternal observer  
Summary of the Council Meetings  
New European geologists  

Instructions to Contributors 

Please provide maximum of 400 words by e-mail to tuula.kilpelainen@ykl.fi, include the text in the message, but do NOT send an attachment, do NOT unencode it. File should alternatively be in Microsoft Word on a PC high densitity/haute densité disks plus hard copy. 

Please state name and version of programme and hardware on the disk. Deadlines are two weeks before Council Meetings, to the new Board Secretary/Editor 

Editors: 

Jukka Marmo, Geological Survey of Finland 
Betonimiehenkuja 4 02150 Espoo, Finland 
tel: 358-205502445 fax: 358-205502197 e-mail: jukka.marmo@gsf.fi 
Tuula Kilpeläinen, Finnish Union of Environmental Professionals Vuorikatu 22 A 15 00100 Helsinki, Finland tel: 358-9-622 68520 fax: 358-9-622 68550 e-mail: tuula.kilpelainen@ykl.fi 

This newsletter is used at EFG council meetings by delegates from member countries to report on matter affecting their geologists. It also carries other news and reports. Eurogeopages is then distributed to the EFG´s 65,000 geologists across Europe. Finally it goes to members of the European Parliament, national governments, etc. 

Manuel Regueiro, President of the EFG 
 

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT  

The EFG is now bigger and stronger 

After the EFG XXXIII Council Meeting in Sweden, Denmark, Poland and Slovakia are full members of the Federation. Hungary will become a full member from the 1st January 1998 and Switzerland will soon join. Requests from Slovenia and other Eastern Europe countries indeed show that the growth will continue in the near future as is the expanding number of activities carried out by the Federation. The commitment with the AIPG is also a proof of the world-wide vocation of the EFG and the possible seed of a future world professional geologist organisation. 

After a period of developing promotional activities in a systematic way (magazine, eurogeopages, directory, brochure) so that the EFG is seen as an acting organisation rather than a group of well-willed friends, and a rise on the budget to 300 thousand FF which although low, allows it to carry out a steady line of work and to maintain a respectable standard of organisation, it seems that the time has come to start the EU adventure. 

We now have a budgeted plan for the CGEU, it is expensive, so it takes financial courage to face the risk, but the EFG needs to achieve political successes to prove that the extraordinary synergies that can be developed by the unity of professional wills, finds a way in the jungle of Brussels. 

But if we look at the magazine, the product of a compromise among all us, a product that can be used as the frontline of our commitment as a proof of team work, something everybody owns and approves, one can see that the EFG is able to jump another step up. Maybe slowly first, with one single goal to achieve during 1997 with the help of ERIS. More bold then - a small provisional and temporary office in 1998- and a definite move finally in the year 2000 (staff, fixed permanent office, etc). 

The ICOG proposal to hold the EFG presidential office must also be looked into in detail, as it might allow to dedicate the saving to the CGEU. With a budget such as the EFG, every penny must be very productive. I am very optimistic about the future of our growing Federation, as are most of the members of the EFG, but it's success depends on the effort made by the individual associations to provide the Federation with its financial support and with their work. 

Finally I must highly recommend all members to use the EFG to influence the politicians of their country dealing with matters related to earth sciences, because that is one very intelligent way to take advantage of their membership and getting their fees to produce. 

Dear Colleagues, 

It is with great sadness that we must inform you that on Wednesday, the 30th of July 1997, our good friend Stavros Papastavrou died after a long illness and several operations in Athens. 

You will all remember the busy figure of Stavros who was a power-house of energy. It was due to his influence and drive that Greece joined the EFG through the Association of Greek Geologists in June 1993 in Helsinki. The AGG then hosted a Council Meeting in Vouliagmeni outside Athens in November 1994, which was an outstanding success. 

Stavros was active on many fronts, in business with IGME, in academia where he wrote many papers and he had a particular interest in environmental aspects of geology, and also of course in professional geology. He was diligent in making contacts with potential new EFG members, such as Cyprus and Austria. 

We shall miss his commonsense approach to matters and his positive contributions to EFG Council Meetings. We send our deepest symathies to his wife and family, and also to Maria-Hara and his colleagues in the AGG. 

EurGeol Manuel Regueiro, President EurGeol Gareth Ll. Jones, Vice-President 
Member country reports 

MEMBER COUNTRY REPORTS 

Belgium  

Union Belgo - Luxembourgeoise des Geologues (UBLG) 

André CHABOT 

Un beau samedi de mars (le 8 exactement) a rassemblé, une fois de plus, les membres de l'association au cours de sa traditionnelle Assemblée Générale. 

Pour célébrer le premier anniversaire de son mandat, J. VERCRUYSSE, notre président, s'était démené pour nous offrir un cadre exceptionnel. Il y a réussi au-delà des espérances. La visite du complexe du captage de Modave, exploité par la Compagnie Intercommunale Bruxelloise des Eaux, nous a fait découvrir l'ingéniosité des hommes de l'art du début du siècle: alimenter la capitale, par gravité, à plus de 100 km de distance, tout en franchissant maintes vallées dont la Meuse. Ces conduites, bien que discrètes, n'ont vraiment rien à envier aux célèbres aqueducs romains. 

Les explications passionnées de Daniel BRUMAGNE, notre ancien président, nous ont menés de la galerie captante à la salle à manger du prestigieux château de Modave dont la cuisine méritait bien un tel décor. 

Avant d'y goûter, l'assemblée proprement dite fut l'occasion d'un premier bilan positif pour le président et son équipe ainsi que d'un fructueux échange, quoique toujours trop court (horaire oblige), entre les membres. 

Au coeur des préoccupations, la position de l'UBLG en tant qu'association pour la défense et la promotion du géologue. En effet, quelques cas démontrent, au niveau des instances administratives en Région Wallonne, une certaine méconnaissance de la spécificité du géologue ainsi que de son droit à oeuvrer dans la Fonction Publique comme n'importe quel autre scientifique ou ingénieur. En revanche, ce type de problème ne se rencontrerait dans l'administration de la Région Flamande. Dès lors, l'UBLG doit-elle agir à l'instar d'un syndicat en estant en justice le cas échéant? Ou alors, l'association doit-elle rester, avant tout, une sorte de conseiller discret et se faire admettre par les autorités comme un interlocuteur de référence? La question est posée et débattue mais finalement pas vraiment tranchée. Il est vrai que la démarche est aussi complexe que délicate. De l'avis général, l'association ne peut cependant rester inactive sur ce point. Une rencontre d'ailleurs est prévue au niveau de l'Administration de la Région Wallonne, on en mesurera les résultats. 

Il est donc nécessaire d'entreprendre une action de sensibilisation concernant le rôle du géologue auprès de certains Pouvoirs Publics. Cela éviterait sûrement certaines confusions, notamment avec les agronomes. Hé oui! Venant de la part d'un Ministère de l'Environnement (Région Wallonne), il faut avouer qu'il y a de quoi s'inquiéter et que du travail reste à faire. 

Côté publications, l'assemblée est unanime pour conserver l'actuel bulletin de liaison sans l'intégrer dans l'European Geologist Magazine dont certains membres ont sévèrement critiqué la qualité. Renouvellera-t-on l'opération de distribution du magazine à tous les membres? 

Le Service Job fonctionne et l'organisation des stages en entreprises pour les étudiants (voir Eurogéopages 8 et 9) rencontre un certain succès et produit un écho favorable, ce qui est toujours bien venu, aux oreilles de notre merveilleuse organisatrice. 

Enfin, la parole est à l'Europe avec les comptes rendus des activités de la FEG. L'assemblée se préoccupe du devenir du titre de Géologue Européen. Après les discussions concernant l'admission des non-européens (effet de la mondialisation?), l'UBLG souhaite ardemment que le titre soit déposé à l'Institut de la Marque Européenne afin d'en faire un réel instrument de promotion du géologue et de la pratique de la géologie. 

Denmark  

The Geological Society of Denmark 

Poul Henrik Due and Marianne Vasard Nielsen 

Since November 1996, when the board of governors of The Geological Society of Denmark decided to apply for membership of the EFG, efforts have been made to establish a group within The Society working with applied geology and related fields. One of the tasks of this group is to be the link between The Society and the EFG. It should be pointed out, that The Society traditionally has recruited members from universities and geological surveys. By establishing a new group, The Society actively tries to attract geologists from other fields such as public administration and private companies. 

Until now about 70 geologists (members as well as non-members) have shown interest in the new group and in May some of the initiators held their first meeting. It is hoped and expected, that the group eventually will gather 150 to 200 geologists, but naturally it takes time to initiate a new activity and to convince potential participants of the use and relevance to their profession. 

The first activities of the new group will take place in the autumn, where three meetings and an excursion are planned. A full membership of the EFG is not expected before the group is firmly established and all participants are members of The Society. 

Finland  

Ympäristöasiantuntijoiden keskusliitto 
Finnish Union of Environmental Professionals 

Jukka Marmo 

RECENT AND CURRENT MARKET TRENDS FOR GEOLOGISTS IN FINLAND 

Students can graduate in geology from four Universities of Helsinki, Turku, and Oulu and from Åbo Akademi (Swedish speaking university in Turku). In addition, engineering geology or geological engineering is available at the Technical Universities of Helsinki and Tampere. In principle you can take the necessary credits for master of science in five years, but in practise graduation takes place in the sixth or seventh study year. Until recently, the geology departments were more involved in educating basic researchers, however, emphasis is now being shifted more on applied science, particularly in environmental, economic, groundwater and computer geology. This can be easely concluded while looking at the titles of the thesis works. This change has happened according to market demand on the other hand and to new requirements set for the science and technology policy by the government on the other hand. 

Major trends that took place and affected the market for geologists within the passed 15 years have been, as follows: 

The cease of base metal mining in Finland and a simultaneous attempts to compensate the declining domestic resources by acquiring ore deposits abroad. This resulted in relatively fast downcut of prospecting and exploration activities in Finland. The number of Finnish geologists working permanently abroad in metallic ore exploration and mining started to grow and has settled down to 40 persons, which is nearly 10% of active Finnish geologists. 

The volume of nonmetallic mining exceeded that of metallic mining. As this development was relative it did not create new jobs. 

The ten years stream of downcuts within the public sector washed away several tens of researcher and geologist posts from the Geological Survey of Finland. When the cutting was initiated, the survey already played the dominant role on the market scheme. Recruiting of young geologists was stopped, and these people acquired non-geological jobs. This could be detected as a relatively low rate (7%) of unemployement and as age distribution among geologists skewing towards middle age. As a consequense of the international evaluation carried out recently, the process of restucturing and modernising the GSF is just underway. 

As the survey is also responsiple of undertaking the assessment of geologial resources, it is rather tall among its competitors in OECD countries, and the failure of the redirecting contains the risk of sudden shrinkage in both size and volume. The success, of course, will save the jobs, which then would gradually give way for young graduates to step in. 

The environmental norms, including goundwater issues, have been developing rapidly. Nature conservation, environmental administration and environmental business related impact assessment, monitoring, restoration and rehabilitation started to grow. This growth also created jobs, but now the market has maturated. Anyway, after these developments nearly 20% of geologists are working within the private sector and the dominance of the survey as an employer has fallen from over 50% down to some 40%. 

The EEA arrengements and the membership of Finland in the European Union opened the borders at the beginning of 1994. This has stimulated particularly exploration business within the country and joint projects, often multidisciplinary, within the E.U. and the passed communists block ( especially the Baltic Countries and NW Russia), and, overseas. Again, new jobs were created, but the opportunities are still there. 

The market for geologists in Finland is mature. But because of so many uncertainties it is premature to forecast, whether the market will start to grow or decline. For instance, a discovery of a world class ore deposit could drastically increase the demand for exploration and, thus, geologists. Raising awareness of environment and growing pressures to increase the area of protected nature could, in turn, work in favour of the other direction, and will evidently do so, if the most favourable areas for geological resources will be rendered out from prospecting and assessment of natural raw materials essential for everyday life of the mankind. 

To be a realist it could be stated, that in the afore-seeable future the sustainable exploitation of natural resources take only take place in a country which has mature democratic institutions and social stability, is respecting the Human Rights, has a high general level of education and which is rich enough to afford all this. Continuous trend of increasing leaning of industrialized World on natural resources coming from countries of disputable reputation will result in an ethic conflict in environmental and nature conservation attitudes among the peoples of the western society that has been found quilty in being responsible of major consumption of nonrenewable resources. 

France  

Union Francaise des Géologues (UFG) 

Jean-Claude Vidal 

L'EMPLOI EN GÉOLOGIE 

1/ Débouchés actuels 

La données suivantes donnent une image instantanée basée sur 90 offres recueillies per l'UFG de septembre 96 à mai 97. II faut savoir que beaucoup d'offres ne sont pas publiées et circulent dans les réseaux de connaissance (marché caché). 

Répartition per domaines de 90 offres recues à l'UFG de septembre 96 à mai 97 

Géophysique: 2°/ Recherche: 7% Mines: 14% Hydrocarbures: 16% Géologie de l'ingénieur: 16% Hydrogéologie: 19% Environnement: 26% 

Le nombre d'offers per domaine correspond assez bien au nombre de géologues employés dans ces domaines. Le nombre important d'offres pour l'exploration minière correspond à un boom sur la recherche d'or dont la durée ne peut être prévue, probablement un petit nombre d'années encore. L'offre d'emploi dans les hydrocarbures semble remonter après une période de faible recrutement. L'emploi dans l'environnement, la géologie de l'ingénieur et l'hydrogéologie paraît devoir rester stable sinon croître dans les années a venir. En ce qui concerne la géophysique, c'est une technique qui est utilisée dans tous les domaines et l'importance de l'emploi des géophysiciens n'apparaît pas sur la figure . 

2/ Formations requises 

La grande majorité des géologues sont recrutés a Bac +5: DESS, DEA, Ecoles d'ingénieurs (les formations universitaires ou les formations ingénieur sont en général appréciées de ma même facon) et après un doctorat. Les titulaires de la seule maîtrise sont recrutés de moins en moins, et souvent sur des postes de techniciens supérieurs. En géologie il y a très peu de postes de techniciens recrutés à Bac +2. 

 Ireland  

Irish Association for Economic Geology (IAEG) 

Christian Shaffalitzky 

The main event of the year for the IAEG was a meeting on gold deposits in Europe, hela in Newcastle, County Down in Northern Ireland on the 17th and 1 8th May. The meeting was jointly sponsored by the IMM and was a big success, attended by over 160 delegates. A large number of gold deposits were described from many countries and it was clear tinat a quiet exploration boom is going on in Europe. As usual the event was also an important social event, with many old friendships renewed. It was the first meeting in Europe for many years which brought the explorers together. More opportunities like this ere needed as there ere moments when the profession feels it is dying out! 

On the professional front, the IAEG has set up two new working groups which will deal with issues challenging the profession in Ireland today. The first is focused on professional affairs, reviewing the revel of service being offered by the IAEG to its members and its future role in enhancing the standardq of the profession of geologista. At present work has concentrated on drawing up a pian of action to expand the organisation of the profession, currently dominated by mineral exploration and mining specialists. A meeting of the membership is planned as part of this programme to prioritise the issues, which include revewing the registration procedures, continuing professional development and review of legislation. 

The second is looking at the implementation of National Heritage Areas in Ireland and its impact on ecomonic development, especially access for mineral exploration. These areas have been proposed without any legal basis at present. However they ere presented as recommendations to the planning authorities so tinat they can be incorporated into the development plans for each county. There objectives ere the preservation of sites and areas of scientific interest and represent a zoning from one point of view. The IAEG is looking at its impact on mineral exploration and on lana access issues. 

 The Slovak republic  

Slovak associations of geologists - SAIG, AGS, SAG, SALG 

Rudolf Ondrasik 

Slovak Geological Associations held this year plenary meetings on which approved their application to the EFG. Four of five Associations agreed, one no. It was decided that Slovak Association of Engineering Geologists - SAIG will applicate also in the name of Association of Slovak Geologists - AGS, Slovak Association of Economy Geologists - SALG, and Slovak Association of Geophysicists. 

As the main event of this year will be the Conference of the Slovak Geological Society held in September 8th at the Comenius University Bratislava. It will be devoted to the 100 anniversary of Professor Dmitrij Andrusov - the foundator of the first Geological Institute in Slovakia. 

Spain  

Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Geologos (ICOG) 

L.Suarez & M.Regueiro 

GEOLOGISTS IN SPAIN 

Spain has nine faculties of Geology located in Madrid, Barcelona (2), Oviedo, Granada, Salamanca, Zaragosa and Bilbao. These faculties award titles of graduated in Geology in two cycles of 4 or 5 years, with an average 3 600 hours (360 credits). During 1996 this faculties offered 1100 places for students of the 1st year of the career and produced around 600 new graduates in Geology, four times the market need, which varies from 100-150 per year depending on economic activity. 

There is currently a big difference between University curricula (basic science) and professional Geology, now covering many different areas in geological engineering, environment and mineral resources. 

The ICOG, by law, is entitled to participate in the curricular plans of the University, namely the core subjects (compulsory in all Spanish faculties of Geology) which represent 60% of the total subjects. But is currently having difficulties to produce a change in the curricular contents of the career, due to the opposition of the university professors whose main concerns seem concentrated in maintaining in the curriculum of geologists their main areas of knowledge, instead of changing them in accord with the real needs of Society. 
 

Due to the basically scientific character of the career, there is no clear professional specialisation, thus students tend to specialise after graduation either at the working place or by post-graduate courses. 

In 1993 the ICOG carried out a survey on the Profession of Geology in Spain. An update of the results of that survey follows: 

Estimated number of graduated in Geology in Spain: 

5 500 ICOG members (1997) = 1998 
Unemployed = 440 (22%) 

Work areas: Private companies, Free lancing, Public companies, Education, Administration, Consulting firms. 

Employment by sectors: Geophysics (11,5%); Geology (19,2%), Hydrogeology (22,1%), Geological computing (2,8%), Geological engineering (23,8%), Environment (8%), Mineral Resources (11,1%), Drilling (1,1%). 

Future outlook The main working areas expected for future times will be roughly the currently important areas (Hydrogeology, Geological Engineering) but environ-ment is currently growing (specially waste disposal and land contamination activities) as well as emerging land-use planning activities. 

Mineral resources is an area that is likely to reduce its capacity to produce jobs due to the reduction in the mining activity. 

ICOG ACTIVITIES 1ST SEMESTER 97 

Political activities 

During the 1st semester the ICOG has had a very intense political agenda culminating with the participation of 5 members of the ICOG in a presentation to the Spanish Senate Special Commission on Natural Disasters, to talk about floods, land slides, coastal hazards, subsidence, hazardous geological materials, earthquakes and volcanoes. 

The President of the ICOG presented to the Commission a list of ten proposals for the prevention of Natural hazards, introducing geological hazards mapping in land-use planning in the new land law that will be discussed in the Spanish Parliament in the coming months. 

The Government has also sent to the ICOG the draft water law so that during this month of June a special ad-hoc Commission may prepare a proposal of amendments and corrections to the draft. 

The new General Director of the Spanish Geological Survey (ITGE) has sent to the ICOG the draft decree of the future Instituto Geológico Mediam-biental (IGME) so that the ICOG give its opinion about that draft. The ICOG has sent a list of proposed amendments which will be considered in the final draft expected to be passed by the Government by September 97. 

With regards to underground water, the ICOG has presented a court case to the High Justice Court of Valencia to defend the right of a geologist to sign investigation and well projects as the mining authorities have rejected the project in the basis that it must be signed by a mining engineer. 

The ICOG has also requested from a Law Office a resolution about the competence of geologists to present it to the water authorities, the Ombudsman, Court of Competence and the Government. Thank to the collaboration of the EFG members it has been possible to stop the creation of the title of Engineering Geologist as its curricula and competencies were clearly contrary to the interest of geologists. 

General Assembly 

The 22th March, the ICOG held its General Assembly where the Board presented its Annual Report of Activities, summary of accounts and new professional fees. The report was published in a Special Bulletin El Geólogo. 

This General Assembly was the first in the history of ICOG where all points of the agenda were approved unanimously. The Assembly approved a budget for 1997 of 450 000 US$. 

AGE 

Also on 22th March the Spanish Association of Geologists (AGE) celebrated its Annual Assembly. AGE has the same board as ICOG and the Assembly approved a modification of statutes to allow the affiliation of students of last courses of Geology, European Geologists and foreign geologists, as well as to allow the signature of agreements with other associations with similar objectives from foreign countries. 

Training Courses With regard to training courses, the following courses have been carried out: 

* Geological Engineering. Attended by 50 profes- sionals. Net benefit 9 000 US$. 
* Internet 
* Computing for geologists 
* Geological Legislation. In collaboration with the Faculty of Geology. 
* IDRISI. GIS. * MINPET. Petrographical analysis software. 

Publications 

In the area of publications, the ICOG has published a new book on Industrial Minerals & Rocks, written by M.Regueiro And M.Lombardero, and has implemented an agreement with the AIPG and the Consortium of Insurance Compensation to publish the Citizen's Guide to Geological Hazards. The book will be published next November. 

The ICOG has also published two bulletins "El Geólogo" and two issues of the magazine "Tierra and Tecnología" during this first semester. 

Geoforum 

Several meetings have been organised by the ICOG under the Geoforum activities: 

* The boom of Geological Museums 
* Spas coming back 
* Geological Publications all of them had great success. 

Agreements 

All this considerable increase of activities of the ICOG has been developed partially thanks to an agreement signed with the Ministry of Justice by which 4 geologists, a librarian and a graduate in English philology are carrying out their social contribution instead of the military service at the ICOG´s facilities. 

Finally it is important to mention that an agreement with the Spanish Railway Company has been signed to develop training courses, discounts in technical books and travelling fares. Today the ICOG is also negotiating co-operation agreements with the Spanish Railway Foundation, the University Complutense of Madrid, Repsol and the Spanish Geological Survey. 

Benefits 

Such an awesome number of activities has generated during the first semester of 97 net benefits of 50 000 US$ which will be used to pay-off part of the mortgage of the headquarters in Madrid. 

Sweden  

Geological Section, Sveriges Naturvetareförbund (SN) 

Christer Åkerman 

Of about 1100 active geoscientists in Sweden in December 1996 most of them were working within the fields of engineering geology, environmental geology and hydrogeology, whereas few were engaged in mining and oil industry. The increasing amount of exploration companies entering Sweden now will find it difficult to encounter experienced Swedish 'ore geologists' at this moment. About two thirds of the geologists are members of the Geologists Section/SN. After the negative trend during the first years of the nineteennineties with a bottom figure of 583 members in June 1993 the amount of members has steadily increased since then and has now reached 727 paying members. During 1996 we recieved 91 new members of which 68% were students and 48% were women. During the same period we lost 27 members. Among the professionally practising members there was a relative unemployment of 11,7% which is higher than the average for the Swedish Association of Scientists. 

European observer countries 

Switzerland  

Schweizerische Fachgruppe der Ingenieurgeologen (SFIG) 
Groupement Suisse de la Géologie de l'Ingénieur (GSGI) 
Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Hydrogeologie (SHG) 
Société Suisse d'Hydrogéologie (SSH) 

Johannes van Stuijvenberg 

The most recently available data on the employment of geologists in Switzerland comes from an inquiry by the Swiss Geological Committee carried out in May 1993. These data still give a good impression of the overall situation. According to the inquiry a total of 1'088 geologists were employed in Switzerland in 1993: 

- 480 as consultants in engineering geology, applied geophysics, hydrogeology and environmental geology. Half of them had a master's degree (Diplom) and half of them a doctor's degree (Ph.D. Thesis), 
- 455 as teachers or researchers at scientific institutes at universities. Also half of them had a master's degree (mainly assistants preparing a Ph.D.Thesis) and half of them a doctor's degree (professors and full time assistants), 
- 50 at federal and cantonal administrations including the National Geological Survey (Service hydrologique et géologique national), 
- 43 at museums, 
- 30 in industry, mainly resources and energy industries, 
- 30 as secondary school teachers. 

These figures do not take into account complications such as job-sharing or part time jobs. 

In the period 1988-1993 in average 80 students achieved the master's degree in geology every year. Half of them (40) continued their studies to achieve the doctor's degree and half of them (40) entered the employment market. Another 40 geologists achieved their doctor's degree and also entered the employment market. Thus a total of about 80 geologists entered into the employment market every year 

Until 1993 and during the following years this did not lead to significant unemployment amongst geologists. Most of them found a job within Switzerland, many outside Switzerland and others outside of geology. 

During the last two or three years, however, the situation has changed dramatically, mainly due to the continuing recession of the economy. In the absence of statistical data it is estimated that now there are allways at least 50 geologists unemployed. 

In spite of rather widespread pessimism I personally believe that the recovery of the economy may take place quite soon. As a consequence full employment of geologists may come back in a near future. However, in the long term, it may not be possible to absorb 80 geologists into the employment market each year. 

For those of you who would still like some more figures: On 1.1.1997 178 geologists were members of the Swiss Group of Engineering Geology and 283 were members of the Swiss Society for Hydrogeology. As 72 were members of both societies, totally 409 geologist were organized by these two associations. 

Fraternal observer 

USA  

American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) 

EurGeol William V. Knight, CPG 

The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) is represented in Stockholm this year by EurGeol Robert Font, CPG, and EurGeol William Knight, CPG. Both attended the meeting in Haarlem in 1996. 

AIPG has developed a publication entitled "Education for Professional Practice", which has been distributed widely, including among the members of EFG. It is being used as the foundation document for studies of the feasibility of a national accreditation program for Departments of Geology in colleges and universities. Meanwhile, the state boards of geology, which license geologists in some states (ASBOG) have developed a national examination that an increasing number of states are using. A discussion of this is being distributed at this Stockholm meeting. Obviously, this will have an impact on the design of curricula. 

Employment of geologists in the United States is spotty. In some parts of the country, Environmental Geologists/Hydro-geologists are in demand, while in others they are suffering from extensive unemployment. Owing to the competition with engineers in some areas, there is increasing conflict between to the two professions. The engineers, being the senior profession, have taken a "turf-protective" stance in many states and have introduced legal measures to keep geologists either out of competition or subordinate to engineers. Engineering geologists are in a much similar situation. Mining geologists are increasingly finding employment in other countries, while often remaining based in the US. Petroleum geologists are again in demand. 

However, most of those finding new employment are recent graduates (with graduate degrees) or those with major company experience. The domestic petroleum industry is experiencing a minor "boom", but most of the newly "minted" geologists are being hired by the international oil companies to work either overseas or in overseas-support positions in the US (primarily in the Houston, Texas, area). There are reports of superior recent graduates being offered "signing bonuses" of $50,000 - $75,000 if they remain with the company for three years. It is variously estimated that there are about 80,000 geologists in the US. Of AIPG Members, about 40% are in "hydro-environmental", 35% are in petroleum, 10% are in mining, 10% are in engineering geology and 5% are in miscellaneous fields. The government sector employs an estimated 10% (federal, state and local), academia about 20% and the remaining 70% are in industry. 

The employment outlook is positive for the long term, but spotty for the short term. The geologic population is aging, so that those who graduate in the next few years should begin to see opportunities as replacements for those who entered the profession in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. There was a period of about 15 years, beginning in about 1983, when student populations shrank drastically. Also, during this time, many petroleum geologists left the profession, never to return. This is expected to eventually lead to a shortage. 

No contributions received:  

Member countries:  

Germany 
Creece 
Italy 
The Netherlands 
Poland 
Portugal 
The United Kingdom 

European observer countries:  

Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Hungary 

SUMMARY OF THE COUNCIL XXXIII COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN STOCKHOLM ON THE 14TH AND 15TH OF JUNE, 1997.  

The plan of activities and the budget for the year 1998 was preliminary accepted after vote. It was decided to make the final decision in November this year. EFG is facing some financial difficulties arising from not receiving regularly and on time the fees from national associations. The Italian delegates did not participated in the meeting. 

Working groups reported of their proggress. WG for Engi neering Geology (Chair Spain) is preparing the proposal for a E.U. directive. WG for Education and Training (Chair France) is acquiring relevant data from national associations. WG for Mineral Resources (Chair Ireland) is net working for reserves and resources. WG Environment (Chair Sweden) is developing the current dossier. WG for EFG WEB pages (Chair Germany) presented the first draft. 

Denmark, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia applied and were unanimously accepted as new members. For Hungary, the membership, will be effective from the 1st of January 1998. AIPG will be admitted a special membership based on mutuality with the federation. 

The current status of the European Geologist Magazine turn out to be an attractive target for discussions. More advertisments will be needed and their spectrum should reflect more the member countries of EFG. 

Opinions arose that the magazine could be developed more on a business basis. 

The meeting of the CGEU was held on 14th of July just prior to the council meeting. Italy has been responsible of the feasibility study and the report was submitted and the budget for further work. After a lively discussion it was decided to expand the activity but not at the expense of the EFG activity. Potential soarces for financial support should be identified. 

The next council meetings will be held in November 1997 in Brussels or Paris, and June 1998 in Cologne. 
 

EFG Calendar 

1997 
September EFG Board Meeting 
Paris France 
November EFG Board and Council Meetings 
Brussels Belgium 
April 1998 EFG Board Meeting Paris France 
June 1998 EFG Council Meeting Cologne Germany 

New European geologists 

Jukka Marmo Secretary General 

NEW TITLES FOR THE EUROPEAN GEOLOGISTS  

The Board in its meeting held in Paris in April and the Council in its Stockholm meeting has approved the new titles, as follows: 

Cosma, Radu 
Bouvier, Antoine 
Bowles, John, 
Duncan, Ian Gordon 
Fowler, Jonathan 
O`Liathain Micheal 
Van Moerkerken, Bruno 
Duran Valsero Juan Jose 
Sanson Cerrato, Jose 
Walbe, Kim Arthur 
Gonzalo Corral, Francisco 
Forti, Sylvia. 

EFG WEB Page address is, as follows: http://efg.gsf.fi/. 

It will be effective from 1st of Sep-tember, 1997. EFG gratefully acknow-ledges that the Geo-logical Survey of Finland has given our WWW services a physical home. 

Eurogeopages will be found on the web pages of the Finnish Union of Environmental Professionals. 
Address: http://yritys.kolumbus.fi/ykl 

FÉDÉRATION EUROPÉENNE DES GÉOLOGUES 
EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF GEOLOGISTS 
FEDERACIÓN EUROPEA DE GEÓLOGOS 
Belgium /Luxembourg UBLG 
Denmark DGF 
Finland FUEP 
France UFG 
Germany BDG 
Greece AGG 
Hungary MFT 
Ireland IAEG 
Italy ONG / ANGI 
The Netherlands KNGMG 
Poland PTG 
Portugal APG 
The Slovak republic SAIG/AGS/SAG/SALG Spain ICOG 
Sweden SN 
The United Kingdom GS 
© EFG 1997 

  
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