The Chartership Bulletin: Summer 2024
Continued Professional Development
CPD is a valuable tool to help you proactively plan and progress your career in Earth science, from post-graduation to retirement. CPD allows you to demonstrate how you, as a professional geoscientist, maintain and develop the standards of technical and professional competence required for your work and area of expertise. As well as broadening your knowledge, CPD gives assurance to employers, clients, partners, peers and to society that you, as a Chartered person, are professionally competent.
A Plan-Act-Reflect cycle can help you steer and monitor your training and personal development. Plan your training needs for the year, act on the plan and reflect on the learning outcomes (what you have achieved and what impact this may have on your work) – and keep a record of this. CPD records are required to maintain Chartered status and can be logged using ‘My GSL’.
Several Society Training Courses and thematic conferences contribute towards CPD. For more, visit: www.geolsoc.org.uk
Assessor tips
Your CPD record should reflect the stage of your career progression and address the full range of Chartership competencies, that is, activities beyond geoscience learnings such as industry awareness, technology developments, business skills, management skills, HS&E learnings, coaching and mentoring. The record should include any mandatory training, certification or recertification that is required for your role.
CPD records for ‘on the job’ activities should include things that are new to you such as learning about a new area of geoscience, taking the lead on a project, using a new evaluation technique or presenting at a project meeting or conference. You are likely to be questioned on your CPD record during your Chartership interview, so be prepared to talk about your recent activities and future plans.
David Lawton BSc, MSc, CGeol, FGS
Milnwood Partners
A CPD record is not a work diary. Instead, it should reflect work that is new for you; presents a challenge; is an expansion of professional experience; or includes contributions to the profession outside of paid employment. Carrying out a routine task, for instance a drilling project but in a new geological environment, offers valid CPD.
Use your judgement as to the amount of time claimed for CPD. For a new experience or project, it is valid to claim almost all the time involved. For subsequent similar projects, reduce the hours claimed as you become less challenged.
It is good to see an interest in geological fields outside of your paid employment, demonstrated by, for example, reading, attendance or involvement at meetings, or promoting Earth science at schools.
Duncan Wardrop BSc, CGeol, CEng, CSci, MIMMM, FGS
Wardrop Minerals Management
CGeol insights
I found the Chartership process challenging but recognise how much it taught me. Initially, I underestimated the importance of maintaining my CPD record, viewing it as a simple list of my experiences without considering the significance of how these contributed to my professional development. Now, I appreciate how documenting and reflecting on CPD activities enhances our understanding and growth, highlights our achievements and provides inspiration for further development. Following the advice of my Assessor, I approached my reflections as if I was writing a diary, assessing my feelings, potential improvements and anticipated outcomes.
I now act as a mentor and workshop leader supporting my colleagues on their own Chartership journeys.
Charlotte Usher BSc, MGeophys, PhD, CGeol, FGS
RSK Geophysics
