Investigating Earth Science or ‘What has the British Geological Survey ever done for teachers?’

Outreach activities have been part of the British Geological Survey’s (BGS) mission from its earliest days. In recent years, improved liaison and dialogue with organisations like ESTA and ESEU, alongside initiatives from central government, such as the Science and Engineering Ambassadors scheme, has raised the profile of educational activities within the organisation and helped us to focus more clearly on teachers’ requirements. The aim of this article is to discuss the BGS’s perspective on geoscience education, review how the BGS is supporting earth science education, and outline what the future may hold. I hope also to show some of the benefits that a geological survey organisation gains by promoting earth science education. Finally, I will look ahead to potential developments and ask what else we can do.