| https://CroninProjects.org/ EGU-Geoethics2024/ |
|---|
Vincent Cronin, International Association for Promoting Geoethics, Vince_Cronin(at)CroninProjects.org
EGU Abstract # EGU24-6136
The National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG1) plays an essential role in supporting the licensing of applied geoscientists in more than 30 states in the United States [1] through promulgating model law2, rules, and regulations for professional licensure3, [2] by developing and implementing the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) and Practice of Geology (PG) exams, and [3] by providing related educational materials4. The content of the FG and PG exams is driven substantially by the results of Task Analysis Surveys (TAS) taken by practicing geologists and academic geologists. Before 2023, the exams included content related to ethics reflected in the earlier TAS analytical summaries5; however, ethics content is not included in the 2023 TAS6 or, reportedly, in the current FG or PG exams.
ASBOG has a history of including applied ethics in its products and organizational structure.  There is a "Code of Conduct/Harassment Policy and Performance Guidelines"7 for the ASBOG organization on its website (ASBOG.org). The "Professional Geologist Model Licensure Law"2 states that each applicant must "submit a signed statement that the applicant has read and shall adhere to any code of professional conduct/ethics and rules established by the Board..." and that the application "be signed and sworn to by the applicant before a notary public" (ASBOG 2017, lines 844-847). Its "Model Rules and Regulations"3 includes a sample "Code of Ethics" for licensed professional geologists (ASBOG 2019, p. 27-29).
Geoscience professional organizations in the US and internationally affirm the fundamental importance of ethics in academic and applied geoscience. Virtually all professional organizations relevant to applied-geoscience practice in the United States (e.g., AAPG8, AGI9, AGU10, AIPG11, AEG12, ASBOG7, GSA13, SIPES14...) have some form of ethics code that their members are obligated to know and adhere to. The International Association for the Promotion of Geoethics15 (IAPG -- www.geoethics.org) curates a list of codes of ethics/professional practice16 and provides publications and educational opportunities supporting geoethics. Another essential resource is the "Teaching Geoethics"17 website (serc.carleton.edu/geoethics -- Mogk and Bruckner, 2014-23).
Robert Tepel (1995)18 described the essential connection between licensure laws and professional ethics. To the extent that there is a lack of ethics content in the current 2023 TAS, candidate handbook, exam preparation resources, and FG and PG exams, ASBOG sends a message that applied ethics might not be a core competency for licensed geoscientists -- a message for which there is essentially no support among geoscience professional organizations.
I suggest that ASBOG collaborate with IAPG and other relevant organizations to address the problems or concerns that resulted in the reported elimination/reduction of ethics content in the application, preparation, and implementation of its FG and PG exams. Licensed professional geoscientists must continue to understand that geoethics is foundational for their work within society. For references and resources, visit CroninProjects.org/EGU-Geoethics2024/.
The following files were created by Vince Cronin for presentation at the EGU meeting on April 16, 2024. .
Andrews, G.C., 2014, Canadian Professional Engineering and Geoscience — Practice and Ethics. [5th Edition]: Toronto, Nelson Education, 472 p.
Bobrowsky, P.T., Cronin, V.S., Di Capua, G., Kieffer, S.W., Peppoloni, S., 2017, The emerging field of geoethics, in Gunderson, L.C., [editor], Scientific integrity and ethics in the geosciences: American Geophysical Union, chapter 11, p. 175-212, Published Online: 20 October 2017, DOI: 10.1002/9781119067825.ch11
Bohle, M., 2019, Exploring Geoethics -- Ethical Implications, Societal Contexts, and Professional Obligations of the Geosciences: Palgrave Pivot, Cham, XIV + 214, ISBN 978-3-030-12009-2
Chan, M.A., and Mogk, D.W., 2023, Establishing an Ethic of Sampling for Future Generations of Geoscientists: GSA Today, v. 33, p. 16-18, https://doi.org/10.1130/GSATG559GW.1
Cronin, V.S., 2021a, Geoethics as a common thread that can bind a geoscience department together, in Di Capua, G., [editor], Geoethics — Status and Future Perspectives: Geological Society of London Special Publication SP508, p. 55-65.
Cronin, V.S., 2021b, Geoethics in natural hazards from the perspective of an engineering geologist ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhyXb6WxyOw ), in Short Course on Geoethics, presented at the 2021 European Geoscience Union Meeting and available online at https://www.geoethics.org/geoethics-school
Cronin, V.S., 2017, Facilitating a geoscience student's ethical development, in Gunderson, L.C., [editor], Scientific integrity and ethics in the geosciences: American Geophysical Union, chapter 14, p. 267-291, Published Online: 20 October 2017, DOI: 10.1002/9781119067825.ch14
Cronin, V.S., 1993, A perspective on professional ethics in engineering geosciences, in Hoose, S., [editor], Proceedings of Symposium on Ethical Considerations in the Environmental Practice of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology: Association of Engineering Geologists National Meeting, San Antonio, p. 21-28.
Cronin V.S., 1992, On the seismic activity of the Malibu Coast Fault Zone, and other ethical problems in engineering geoscience [abs]: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 24, no. 7, p. A284, accessible via https://CroninProjects.org/Pubs/Cronin-MCFZ-Geoethics[abs]1992.pdf.
Cronin, V.S., Slosson, J.E., and Slosson, T.L., 1991, Method of multiple working hypotheses: A chimera or a necessity for ethical practice in engineering geosciences: Proceedings, Association of Engineering Geologists National Meeting, p. 137-143.
Cronin, V.S., Slosson, J.E., Slosson, T.L., and Shuirman, G., 1990, Deadly debris flows on I-5 near Grapevine, CA, in French, R.H., [editor], Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Hydraulics/Hydrology of Arid Lands (H2AL): New York, American Society of Civil Engineers, p. 78-83, https://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?66988
Cronin, V.S., and Sverdrup, K.A., 1998, Preliminary assessment of the seismicity of the Malibu Coast Fault Zone, southern California, and related issues of phlosophy and practice, in Welby, C.W., and Gowan, M.E., [editors], A Paradox of Power: Voices of Warning and Reason in the Geosciences: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America Reviews in Engineering Geology, v. XII, P. 123-155, accessible via https://CroninProjects.org/Pubs/Cronin-Sverdrup-1998.pdf
Di Capua, G., Bobrowsky, P.T., Kieffer, S.W., and Palinkas, C., [Editors], 2021, Geoethics: Status and Future Perspectives: London, Geological Society, Special Publication 508, 311 p.
Di Capua G., Peppoloni S. and Bobrowsky P.T., 2017, The Cape Town Statement on Geoethics. Annals of Geophysics, Vol. 60, Fast Track 7, doi: 10.4401/ag-7553, accesssible via https://www.geoethics.org/ctsg
Gunderson, L.C., [editor], 2018, Scientific integrity and ethics in the geosciences: Washington, D.C., American Geophysical Union, 327 p.,
Hoose, S., [Editor], 1993, Professional Practice Handbook: Association of Engineering Geologists, Special Publication 5, 191 p.
Johnson, P.A., Widnall, S.E., and Benya, F.F., [Editors], 2018, Sexual Harassment of Women — Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Washington, D.C., National Academy Press, 292 p.
Lollino, G., Arattano, M., Giardino, M., Oliveira, R., and Peppoloni, S., [Editors], 2014, Engineering Geology for Society and Territory — Volume 7 — Education, Professional Ethics, and Public Recognition of Engineering Geology: Cham, Switzerland, Springer International Publishing, 274 p.
Mogk D., 2017, Geoethics and Professionalism: The Responsible Conduct of Scientists, in Peppoloni S., Di Capua G., Bobrowsky P.T., Cronin V.S. (Eds.), Geoethics at the heart of all geoscience: Annals of Geophysics, Vol. 60, Fast Track 7, https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-7584, available via https://www.annalsofgeophysics.eu/index.php/annals/article/view/7584/6838
Peppoloni S. and Di Capua G., 2022, Geoethics — Manifesto for an ethics of responsibility towards the Earth: Springer, Cham, XII+123 pp., ISBN 978-3030980436. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98044-3
Peppoloni S. and Di Capua G., 2021a, Current Definition and Vision of Geoethics, in Bohle M. and Marone E. (eds), Geo-societal Narratives - Contextualising Geosciences: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, pp. 17-28, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79028-8_2, available via https://www.geoethics.org/_files/ugd/5195a5_5d5ee02dd02048d497430074ffd632ce.pdf?index=true
Peppoloni S. and Di Capua G., 2021b, Geoethics to start up a pedagogical and political path towards future sustainable societies: Sustainability, 13(18), 10024, https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810024, accessible via https://www.geoethics.org/_files/ugd/5195a5_9cffb8e6b1824c68b3097ec627e46db2.pdf?index=true
Peppoloni, S., and Di Capua, G., [Editors], 2015, Geoethics — The Role and Resonsibility of Geoscientists: London, Geological Society, Special Publication 419, 187 p.
Shuirman, G., and Slosson, J.E., 1992, Forensic Engineering -- Environmental Case Histories for Civil Engineers and Geologists: Academic Press, 296 p., ISBN 0-12-640740-1, especially the following chapter:
Slosson, J.E., Williams, J.W., and Cronin, V.S., 1991, Current and future difficulties in the practice of engineering geology: Engineering Geology, v. 30, p. 3-12.
Tepel, R.E., 1995, Professional Licensure for Geologists -- An Exploration of Issues: Special Publication 7, Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists, accessed August 2, 2023 via https://aeg.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/Publications/SP7_Professional%20Licensure%20for%20Geologists.pdf
World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, Our common future: Oslo, Norway: United Nations General Assembly, Development and International Cooperation: Environment, accessible via https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/5987our-common-future.pdf
Wyss, M., and Peppoloni, S., 2014, Geoethics, Ethical Challenges and Case Studies in Earth Sciences: Elsevier, 450 p., ISBN 978-0127999357
If you have any questions or comments about this site or its contents, drop an email to the humble
webmaster
.
All of the original content of this website is © 2024 by Vincent S. Cronin