This occupation is found in a wide range of sectors and environments. Typical settings can require the discovery, development and utilisation of natural resources, environmental protection or consideration of the built environment. Geoscientists work onshore and/ or offshore. They typically work for local authorities, government organisations, environmental consultancies, mining, quarrying, energy resources, water industry, multidisciplinary consultancies, ground investigation/engineering contractors and consultancies. Geoscientists may conduct their activities in an office, a laboratory, in the field or on site.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to guide sustainable development and stewardship of the natural and built environment. Geoscientists evaluate earth systems and advise on the viable exploration, management, development, remediation, and storage of earth resources. This advice may relate to, minerals, water, aggregates, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and radioactive waste, housing development or infrastructure alignment. Geoscientists also advise on the mitigation and management of geohazards (for example, flooding, coastal erosion, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides), the energy transition and alternative forms of energy that underpin the route to net zero carbon and sustainability. They may use engineering geology and geotechnical engineering approaches in activities that include land restoration, site investigations, geohazard assessment, waste disposal and the development of civil engineering infrastructure or construction activities.
Geoscientists investigate past climates to understand climate change and its impact on the environment and society. They manage and communicate potential risks and opportunities, with an awareness that the application of their expertise should be considered within a wider socioeconomic and environmental context. Geoscientists gather and analyse evidence to develop predictive models that assist resilience planning and safe development across a range of sectors. Data can be collected from examination of the ground surface, examination of past records (such as mapping and academic research), sub-surface investigation (for example, by drilling, probing and geophysical methods) followed by monitoring, examination and laboratory testing on the samples obtained.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with internal and external stakeholders at all levels. They are likely to deal with specialists such as scientists, engineers, other professionals, as well as project managers and society at large. Typical activities range from visiting sites to collect geological information, looking at the consistency of information collected to find anomalies and trends, for example, ore concentrations, soft ground, or contamination.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for working on projects in areas such as resource management, environmental conservation and sustainability, renewable energy, water management, and the natural and built environment. Geoscientists are responsible for conducting scientific investigations of the geological materials, processes and products of the past and present. They interpret data to assess risk, identify potential opportunities and influence and advise on present day decisions. This can inform policy direction and adaptation strategies for a changing climate. They are versed in the commercial, contractual, and legal aspect of the projects they support and manage, and they work in accordance with their employer’s processes, procedures and relevant professional and ethical standards. Geoscientists are likely to report to a senior geoscientist, manager, project managers, clients, or shareholders. They can be specialists within a business or work independently on a consultancy basis. Geoscientists will have a high level of autonomy and identify what balance of work is required for each project.
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 1 Manage and apply geoscience information to deliver outputs and support client and organisational objectives. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K16 K17 K20 K22 K23 K24 |
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Duty 2 Conduct geoscientific assessments within multi-disciplinary projects. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K20 K24 |
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Duty 3 Conduct research using tools and documents such as maps, remotely sensed imagery, existing data sets. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K20 K24 |
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Duty 4 Develop preliminary geoscientific understanding of data using digital and non-digital methods. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K20 K24 |
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Duty 5 Evaluate geoscientific representations to determine whether they are sufficient for project needs and identify gaps in data. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K20 K24 |
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Duty 6 Design and conduct geoscientific investigations and produce predictive computer-based models. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K20 K24 |
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Duty 7 Undertake and supervise relevant fieldwork activities, e.g., geological mapping, site investigation. |
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Duty 8 Update geoscientific representations using new information. Collect and correlate additional data to continue to develop understanding of project requirements. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K20 K23 K24 |
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Duty 9 Prepare factual and interpretative reports, figures, and diagrams. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K20 K23 K24 |
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Duty 10 Present findings and contribute to developing cost effective solutions and providing advice on possible geoscientific solutions. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 |
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Duty 11 Develop and follow health and safety plans to cover identified works. |
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Duty 12 Develop and maintain relationships, adapting communication style and format to different audiences. |
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Duty 13 Manage change and schedule programme activities to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget. |
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Duty 14 Keep up to date with advances in working practices and technological developments, sharing good practice. |
K1: Formation of the earth and the solar system and how this informs our understanding of planet earth.
Back to Duty
K2: Earth layers, their movement, distribution of materials, composition and properties of materials and how this can be used to predict natural events.
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K3: Petrography and petrology of rocks and minerals, including metamorphic processes, sedimentary processes and igneous processes.
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K4: The role of modelling in earth system science.
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K5: Earth surface processes, including superficial deposits, hydrology, geomorphology and the impact on landscape natural resources and natural hazards.
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K6: Sub-surface processes, including hydrogeology, fluid flow, rock deformation and mechanics and how this informs 4D distribution of Earth materials, natural resources and natural hazards.
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K7: Earth history, evolution and stratigraphy and how this can inform modelling and geoscientist predictions.
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K8: Long term and anthropogenic climate change and how it can be influenced by the management and development of natural and renewable resources, and how this affects natural and human related geohazards.
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K9: Applied geoscience, including engineering geology, geophysics, environmental geology, urban geology, mining geology.
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K10: Socio-environmental global development frameworks (for example, UN Sustainable Development Goals) and the concepts of geoethics and environmental justice.
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K11: Socio-economic, commercial and business principles relevant to the earth sciences.
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K12: Global perspectives on the historical development of the geosciences and how these influence the approach of current practices and geopolitics.
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K13: Coding to facilitate analysis, modelling and interpretation of Earth and other planetary systems across a range of scales.
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K14: Creation, analysis and interpretation of geospatial data (including maps and cross-sections) in both digital and analogue formats, using appropriate professional software such as a Geographic Information System (GIS).
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K15: Instrument-based investigation of the surface and sub-surface of the Earth, including drilling, remote sensing, geophysical and geochemical techniques.
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K16: Handling of data and drawing conclusions, taking into account uncertainty and incomplete data.
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K17: Health and safety risk, hazard and consequence definitions and how they apply to carrying out geoscientific tasks, including design.
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K18: The importance of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), how it is managed within the employer and geoscientific community.
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K19: The impact of exploitation of other cultures and geopolitical landscape.
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K20: The implications, limitations and consequences of applying different geoscientific theories, paradigms, concepts and principles.
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K21: Methods used to cost geoscientific projects, and the principles of cost management and control.
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K22: How to establish the client brief, the form of contract and terms of engagement.
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K23: Company procedures and policies and organisational objectives.
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K24: Numerical, statistical, geostatistical and qualitative techniques in the evaluation of data and information.
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K25: The importance of keeping up to date with advances in working practices and emerging technologies and how this can positively impact the wider business.
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S1: Integrate and critically evaluate information from different sources to test findings and hypotheses.
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S2: Consider, appraise and inform ground related issues to multidisciplinary teams.
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S3: Define complex geoscience related problems, a strategy to understand the problem and evaluate possible solutions. For example: resource scarcity, foundations, sustainability energy supply.
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S4: Test geological models to inform and design investigations.
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S5: Plan, conduct and present independent geoscientific projects with appropriate guidance.
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S6: Consider inconsistencies and uncertainty and gaps in data when developing geological models.
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S7: Apply geoscientific theories, paradigms, concepts and principles.
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S8: Conduct and supervise fieldwork, geoscience mapping and laboratory investigations as appropriate and in accordance with safe working practices and legal requirements.
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S9: Apply appropriate numerical, statistical, geostatistical and qualitative techniques in the evaluation of data and information.
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S10: Utilise digital technologies, instrumentation and remote sensing for the collection, analysis and modelling of data.
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S11: Communicate relevant geoscience insights to external stakeholders using different formats and media.
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S12: Evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses and develop personal development goals.
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S13: Plan and organise own workload and contribute to the completion of geoscientific projects.
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S14: Collaborate with stakeholders online, remotely and in person, using appropriate techniques.
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S15: Carry out geoscientific site surveys independently across a range of environments.
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S16: Keep up to date with advances in working practices and emerging technologies and disseminate learning across the organisation.
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S17: Prepare geoscience risk assessments in accordance with associated legislation for health, safety and wellbeing.
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S18: Apply equality, diversity and inclusivity good practice to inform decision making.
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S19: Produce recommendations that align to client requirements and organisational objectives that demonstrate the application of ethical, environmental sustainability and compliance with relevant legislation.
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B1: Act as a role model and advocate for ethical, social, environmental and sustainable professional practices.
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B2: Collaborate and promote teamwork across disciplines.
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B3: Adapt to and show resilience in challenging or changing situation.
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B4: Commit to their own and supports others' professional development.
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B5: Act as an advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion.
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B6: Act as a role model and advocate for health, safety and wellbeing.
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B7: Reflect on the process of learning and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses.
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B8: Inspires, guides and motivates others.
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B9: Takes responsibility for decisions, designs and procedures.
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B10: Recognise and respect the views of others and acknowledges different perspectives.
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Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | End-point assessment revised, addition of Degree aggregation section to the EPA plan | 25/10/2024 | Not set |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 16/10/2023 | 24/10/2024 |
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