Abstract:

At the University of Granada one of the three oldest Geology schools in Spain has produced more than 2500 geologists during the 50 plus years of its history. During the academic course 2009-2010 a project is being developed to define the most common socio-demographic profile and aptitudes of a typical Geology student. The results obtained from said study will be used in coming years to develop a strategy to promote Geology to Secondary school students in the local area. In this way efforts may be centred on the most receptive sectors, that is to say those which are most likely to produce Geology students.

The project involves a group of ten professors, all with different teaching backgrounds, from various Earth Science disciplines. As well as the geologists a sociologist is participating to undertake a scientific analysis and interpretation of the results of a series of questionnaires. In addition, a graphic designer has been contracted to make a comic strip leaflet, the aim of which is to promulgate knowledge about the study of Geology at the University of Granada and the related career possibilities.

The project team has surveyed Granada University Geology students at various stages of their degree. The age range of those questioned was 21 to 34, with women slightly outnumbering men. Most of the students came from medium sized towns (10,000 to 100,000 inhabitants), notably many of these were a considerable distance from Granada and closer to other Universities where Geology may also be studied. Within this ‘allochthonous’ group the most important factor in attracting the students to Granada was the reputation of Geology at this University, tying for second place were the good name of the University in general and the agreeable student environment of the city.

It is important to note that for a quarter of the students Geology was not their first choice of degree and that a third only chose their subject at the last minute. Many students already knew a geologist before beginning their university career, this contrasts with 30% stating that they had never seen a geologist in the media.

Across the board the students thought that being a geologist was not a socially prestigious profession with a third of those surveyed considering geology only for their studies, suggesting that they will not follow it as a career choice. Some 60% of the students ruled out the possibility that their degree would lead to a well paid job.

Being close to nature and travelling were the two main motives for choosing to study Geology. In general the Granada University Geology students were quite satisfied with their course, over half stated that it had exceeded their expectations.

Acknowledgements.- This project has been financially supported by the University of Granada Vicerectorate for Guaranteeing Quality (Teaching Innovation Project 09-122). We acknowledge the participation of a group of students of Geology as well as the collaboration of a number of High Schools of the Granada, Jaén, Almería, Málaga, Córdoba, Cádiz and Murcia provinces. The departments of Geodynamics, Mineralogy and Petrology and Stratigraphy and Paleontology of the University of Granada are also acknowledged for its support.

Keywords:

Geology, Socio-demographic profile, Teaching Innovation, University of Granada.