The Chartership Bulletin: Autumn 2024
EDIA within the Chartership process
The Society is firmly committed to improving access and opportunities in the geosciences. Our Code of Conduct requires that all Fellows encourage and contribute to the development of a safe, diverse, and inclusive workforce. In 2023, we updated our Chartership regulations for Chartered Geologist status (criterion (v)) to reflect current professional practice with regards to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA).
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, age or other diversity characteristic. We aim to support Chartership candidates where extra provision or reasonable adjustments are required so that everyone receives the same opportunities during the review process. Similarly, we support our Chartership Assessors in delivering their role for the Geological Society.
Any information given regarding personal access requirements will be used to inform access during the review and interview process and is kept confidential.
Please contact us at chartership@geolsoc.org.uk or diversity@geolsoc.org.uk with any queries about accessibility.
Variety breeds success
One of the things I like most about geology is the variety of rocks and soils we look at, and it’s the same with humans; we’re not all built the same.
As an Assessor of a recent Chartership candidate who indicated before the interview that they are neurodiverse, I can say with all honesty that it had no negative effect on the interview process from my side, nor the candidate’s likelihood of success. I was glad that they felt comfortable mentioning their needs, and it made me think and reflect on how I should form questions and consider their answers. We’re always developing (CPD records at the ready!) and I learned something that day.
If you’re considering applying but are feeling intimidated due to your own diversity characteristics, just remember that we Assessors have gone through the process before. We can remember how insurmountable the challenge feels and, of course, may have our own characteristics to be borne in mind too.
The best teams are made up of the widest variety of people and the Geological Society is no different.
Corran McArthur BSc MSc CGeol FGS
Technical Director at Fairhurst
Chartership candidates with 20+ years’ experience
The Society has always encouraged senior geoscientists with more than 20 years of professional experience to apply for Chartership, to act as role models and mentors for less experienced colleagues within their sector of work and to promote the uptake of professional titles.
Candidates in this category often have experience that has evolved beyond technical geosciences into a wider focus on commercial or managerial aspects. Nonetheless, the geoscience knowledge that supported their development to this point will have underpinned their progression. The candidate should therefore demonstrate this knowledge base, and how they meet the Chartership criteria, regardless of career length.
We have recently made changes to the application process that are intended to facilitate a more straightforward approach for these candidates who were previously restricted by a limited number of documents. Candidates are now asked to discuss each of the Chartership criteria in turn and provide a minimum of one Supporting Document to evidence this.
No one career is the same. Candidates who have had a non-linear career path, or whose eligibility for the 20+ route is borderline, are encouraged to contact the Chartership team to discuss this before applying.
