Toward the end of last year, we invited our readers to tell us what they think of Geoscientist—what they enjoy, tend to skip, or would like to see more (or less) of.
It is heartening to see the strength of feeling readers have for the magazine. The survey results show that Geoscientist has a loyal and engaged readership, with 78% of respondents reading every or almost every issue.
More than half say they have always read the magazine, while over a quarter say they read it more now than they used to. For those reading less often, it seems the main obstacle isn’t a lack of interest but a lack of time—with increasingly pressured lives, reading can feel like a luxury that competes with many other demands. There’s appetite for shorter, accessible content that readers can dip into easily, so with this issue we have reintroduced our popular In Brief section (page 44) summarising recently published research and developments across the geosciences.
Geoscientist has a loyal and engaged readership
Survey feedback confirms an enduring connection to print. While readers appreciate having both print and digital options, nearly three quarters prefer print, with some saying they would read the magazine less—or not at all—if it were online-only. Just 8% expressed interest in reading the magazine through an app. In an increasingly digital world, print offers something precious: a tactile, distraction-free experience. For geoscientists, that appeal is practical as well as emotional, with physical copies coming in handy during long periods spent travelling or working in remote locations.
Respondents report using Geoscientist to keep up with developments across the geosciences, stay informed about Society activities, or simply because they find it enjoyable. Feedback on the magazine’s content, tone, imagery and design shows strong satisfaction (>90%). Readers value the magazine’s breadth and quality, as well as the sense of connection to the wider geoscience community that it provides. But there is clear appetite for expanded coverage of applied geoscience, engineering geology, hydrogeology and other industry-focused topics.
Digital engagement presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While views of Geoscientist.Online have grown strongly since launch in 2021, many survey respondents were unaware of the magazine’s wider multimedia offer (such as our podcasts and Science Snapshot videos).
Above all, the survey shows that Geoscientist remains valued and well read. We will use the results to help sharpen content relevance, improve digital visibility, and shape the magazine’s future—and we are hugely grateful to all who took the time to share their constructive feedback.
Dr AMY WHITCHURCH
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
