Innovation March-April 2023

F E A T U R E

Antigone Dixon-Warren, P.Geo., Manager, Capital Projects, at BC Hydro, has followed that route. As the first grad student in earth sciences at SFU when she finished her master's degree in the late 1990s, she no longer does the field work that drew her into the profession. "I found it was always the diversity that you got in geoscience," she said. "Because, to me, of all the sciences, it's the science you can see—you see the landforms, you can see the dirt, you can see the rock. You live and breathe it. You look outside, geology is there." But after many years in the field, it was time for a management position. As professional geoscientists move out of field work, another issue is making sure there are enough experienced professionals to supervise and train the newcomers in field work. RECRUITING In BC, geoscience became a regulated profession in 1990. The P.Geo. designation comes after a university degree in an applicable field and four years of work experience under supervision. However, credentials vary around the world and within Canada. Each province has its own criteria for practising and geoscientists must register in the province they are working in. Therefore, it's not a simple matter to recruit people from other places or to quickly register internationally-trained professionals to fill the demand in BC. While many are arriving in BC now with education and experience from outside, they still must meet the qualifications to practice in BC. With the strong demand, Engineers and Geoscientists BC has noticed a 32 percent increase in geoscience registrant applications from 2021 to 2022 and a 17 percent increase in geoscience trainee (GIT) applications for the same period, according to Jason Ong, Director of Registration. Most of those applicants are indicating mineral exploration as their practice area. As of last year's figures, there were 2,068 geoscientists registered in BC, and 526 GITs. (See chart of the number of GITs in Canada since 2005 on page 17.) While it appears those interested in applying for the many opportunities in BC are getting registered, there is also a danger that unqualified people may be working in the field to meet the demand. Yang noted it will be important for Engineers and Geoscientists BC to ensure the public is protected. "Our role as a regulator is about protecting the public. So when a person calls themselves a geoscientist and they work in the world of geoscience, the public can feel confident and trust us as a regulator to hold these people accountable."

Jen Clarke, P.Geo., a geomorphologist with her own consulting company in Kelowna, works on a debris flow hazard assessment project for the Bastion Creek Watershed in the North Okanagan area. P hoto : courtesy of J en C larke

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