Professor Peter Betts

Associate Dean of Graduate Research in the Faculty of Science, Monash University

Keynote presentation title

Shaping the Future of Geosciences: Navigating Trust, Advocacy, and Educational Evolution  

Keynote presentation synopsis

Facing a pivotal challenge, the geosciences struggle to attract tertiary students, with the commensurate flow onto future workforces marred by a narrative overly focused on mining and environmental impacts. This perception undermines trust in the field, with advocates seen as biased due to historical ties to extractive industries. The solution lies in engaging trusted figures—parents, teachers, and career advisors—to reframe geosciences as critical to sustainable planet management, including the mitigation of climate change.

Moreover, the geoscience's transactional outreach approaches alienate young audiences seeking meaningful engagement. A shift towards authentic, relational communication is essential. Concurrently, educational evolution driven by student behaviour, technology, and demands for industry-education integration offers an opportunity for reinvention. Embracing AI, new pedagogies, and collaborative efforts can modernise geoscience education, aligning it with societal needs and inspiring a new, environmentally conscious generation of geoscientists.

Biography

Professor Pete Betts is the Associate Dean of Graduate Research in the Faculty of Science at Monash University, where he also serves as Professor of Tectonics and Structural Geophysics in the School of Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment. His research encompasses a broad spectrum of geosciences, including geological synthesis of the Australian continent, Precambrian plate tectonics, neotectonics at convergent and divergent plate margins, ongoing projects in the Red Sea and exploration targeting.

Pete has contributed to over 130 research publications and authored more than 35 technical reports for governments and exploration companies. He is the immediate Past President of the Geological Society of Australia and currently serves on the National Governing Council. In 2018, he was the inaugural GSA Ambassador and used this platform to highlight existing and impending challenges in the Geosciences. In 2021, his significant contributions to Australian geoscience were acknowledged with the awarding of the GSA Browne Medal, the GSA's highest honour.