On 9 April 2018, the European Federation of Geologists (EFG) organised the “Industry Career opportunities for early-career scientists” event as part of the Townhall Meetings of the EGU General Assembly 2018 in Vienna. Around 30 early-career geoscientists attended the event in which experienced geoscientists shared their insights on how to pursue a career in the private sector. Marco Komac, EFG External Relation Officer, was the chairman of the meeting.
The panellists were:
-Marco Komac, EFG External Relation Officer
-Isabel Fernandez, EFG Executive Director
-Nickolas Arndt, EGU outreach committee and professor at the Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France
-Gerrit Olivier, an entrepreneur and founder of the Institute of Mine Seismology, South Africa
-Thomas Lecocq, an entrepreneur and founder of the Royal Observatory of Belgium
-Nic Bilham, Director of Policy and Communications at the Geological Society of London and EFG UK delegate
At the beginning of the meeting, Isabel Fernandez presented the European Geologist title and its importance for following an industry career. This professional title awarded by EFG indeed provides a quality mark to demonstrate to employers, regulators and the general public that the individual is competent to provide geological advice within the European Union and beyond.
The panellists then shared their experience about working in the private sector and how they found their first job. At the end, there was a lively debate, in which the audience participated actively, asking several questions to the panellists.
