The Changing Role of Geological Surveys
CONTAINS OPEN ACCESS

Senior managers and Heads of Geological Survey Organizations (GSOs) from around the world have contributed a collection of papers to provide a benchmark on how GSOs are responding to national and international needs in a rapidly changing world. GSOs continue to provide key scientific information about Earth systems, natural hazards and climate change. As countries adopt sustainable development principles and the public increasingly turns to social media to find information about resource and environmental issues, the generation and communication of Earth science knowledge become increasingly important. This volume provides a snapshot of how GSOs are adapting their activities to this changing world. The different national perspectives presented converge around several common themes related to resources, environment and big data. Climate change and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals provide an increased incentive for GSOs of the world to work in harmony, to generate knowledge of Earth systems and to provide solutions for sustainable management of the planet.
Geological surveys as research-focused organizations: New Zealand's experience and opportunities Available to Purchase
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Published:November 10, 2020
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CiteCitation
Mark Rattenbury, Gill Jolly, Peter Benfell, Robert Smillie, 2020. "Geological surveys as research-focused organizations: New Zealand's experience and opportunities", The Changing Role of Geological Surveys, P. R. Hill, D. Lebel, M. Hitzman, M. Smelror, H. Thorleifson
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Abstract
GNS Science is New Zealand's geological survey with an applied earth science research focus yet without traditional government department accountabilities. As one of New Zealand's Crown Research Institutes established in 1992, GNS Science is owned by the New Zealand Government but has higher levels of self-determination, fiscal independence and impartiality than a government department. Securing competitive research funding and commissioned research is a business imperative and because of this the institute is able to respond and adapt to changing societal expectations. GNS Science can also influence outcomes based on its discretionary research investment. New Zealand's geological setting astride an active plate boundary attracts many international partners endeavouring to better understand geological processes in an accessible and logistically well-resourced natural laboratory. Partnerships like these substantially increase technological and financial resources and these enable diverse and often ambitious projects.
- Australasia
- data bases
- data processing
- geologic hazards
- Geonet
- geothermal energy
- GNS Science
- government agencies
- ground water
- institutions
- international cooperation
- isotopes
- mapping
- monitoring
- natural hazards
- New Zealand
- nuclear energy
- policy
- programs
- research
- risk assessment
- survey organizations
- QMAP