Celebrating emerging geoscience talent
The Early Career Geologist Award celebrates innovation, communication, and technical excellence among early career geoscientists. Organised by the Geological Society’s Early Career Network, this annual competition offers a platform for emerging voices to showcase their work – both to expert judges and a wider public audience.
Each year, Regional Groups across the UK host local heats, with finalists advancing to the National Finals. The 2025 finalists presented a diverse selection of topics at Burlington House, covering everything from global landslide inventories and subsurface mapping in the South China Sea, to offshore wind infrastructure design, heritage mining landscapes in northern France, and carbon storage site characterisation. Entrants were judged primarily on their ability to make complex science engaging and accessible.
The 2025 competition was fiercely contested, but the top honour went to Elias Rugen, whose presentation on The Garvellach Islands, Scotland: a rare record of Snowball Earth captivated the room. Elias’ talk shed light on one of Earth’s most extreme climate episodes, offering fresh insights into ancient global glaciations. Elias stood out for his compelling delivery and clear explanation of a topic that connects deep geological time with today’s climate challenges.
The judges, Jonathan Parry (SLR Consulting), John Gluyas (President of the Geological Society), and Dipalee Jukes (Ground & Water), praised the exceptionally high standards, breadth of topics, and clarity with which all finalists communicated their science. Each finalist received a one-year Fellowship of the Society, while Elias took home the £100 prize and engraved Early Career Geologist Award trophy. A huge thanks also go to SLR Consulting for sponsoring the 2025 competition!
To keep up with our events and opportunities, or to pitch an idea, connect with the Early Career Network at geolsocecn@gmail.com.
Jocelyn Barker Sustainability Consultant, Satarla
