Geology for Global Development

25/07/2025

📢 “Early warnings must be grounded in local realities, not just global models.”

As the world moves towards the 2027 hashtag target, this blog from Will, our research coordinator, explores why early warning systems must be co-developed with communities, underpinned by detailed local geoscience, and trusted by those most at risk.

Featuring examples like Medellín’s landslide monitoring network, the piece highlights how strengthening local data, capacity, and communication can make the difference between alerts that save lives and those that don’t.

📖 Read more via EGU’s GeoLog blog:

As the Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) initiative gathers pace with its 1st Multi-Stakeholder Forum last month in Geneva, we have welcomed a recognition by experts of the importance of tailoring early warning systems to local needs. The ambition to ensure everyone on Earth is protected by a multi-ha...

30/05/2025

In the coming days, national representatives, UN agencies, civil society, the private sector, academia, and other stakeholders will gather at the 8th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, Switzerland, to take stock of progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, share new knowledge, exchange best practice, and discuss the latest developments and trends in reducing disaster risk.

Natural hazards—such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, hurricanes, avalanches or landslides—when combined with exposure and vulnerability have devastating effects on lives, health and well-being, access to education, livelihoods and economic growth. The Report of the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework 2015–2030, however, notes that risks are being created and accumulated faster than our ability to anticipate, manage and reduce them, and that progress towards a more resilient future has stalled, in part, because of barriers between risk science and risk-informed decision-making (UNDRR, 2023).

The Geology for Global Development team will be present, engaging in this high-level forum in Geneva to champion the importance of geoscience data, institutions, and education in tackling these challenges.

In partnership with the American Geophysical Union (AGU), European Geosciences Union - EGU, The Geological Society, Global Volcano Risk Alliance, and International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, we have released a statement highlighting three themes that we believe should be part of conversations at the Global Platform and embedded into any post-event strategy for enhancing risk reduction.

1. Enhancing environmental data availability to understand current and future disaster risks.

2. Strengthening support for scientific institutions in low-income and least-developed countries.

3. Improving public understanding of the natural environment, to support education for sustainable development.

Collectively, we believe these actions will increase the availability of Earth and environmental science for disaster risk reduction, helping to drive progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Read our full statement: https://www.gfgd.org/news-events/2025/5/28/gp2025

For those attending the Global Platform and keen to engage with the GfGD team, please reach out: https://www.gfgd.org/contact-gfgd

07/05/2025

The 2025 UN STI Forum happening today and tomorrow is bringing together leaders to explore how science, technology and innovation can support progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

A valuable space for discussions relevant to the geoscience and development community. Worth following for those engaging with science-policy spaces.

The tenth annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) will be held from Wednesday, 7 May, to Thursday, 8 May 2025. The Forum will be convened by the President of ECOSOC His Excellency Mr. Bob Rae, who had appointed two co-chairs - H.E. Mr.

11/03/2025

We are seeking people from geoscience, international development, and related sectors with a commitment to good governance, strategic thinking, and championing our values of diversity, equality and inclusion.

Geology for Global Development is recruiting new Trustees to support our work mobilising the geoscience community in pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Trustees help shape GfGD’s strategy, ensure sound governance, and support the leadership team. This voluntary role offers an opportunity to contribute to an organisation focused on sustainable development and social justice.

Expressions of interest (CV and/or cover letter) are welcome by 21 March 2025. Applications submitted after this date may be considered if vacancies remain.

Find out more about the role: www.gfgd.org/call-for-trustees

04/03/2025

We are pleased to share that Dr Joel Gill, GfGD’s Co-CEO, has been awarded the Coke Medal by The Geological Society.

This award recognises his contributions to geoscience and his commitment to supporting the global geoscience community—through research, policy engagement, and initiatives such as GfGD. The recognition reflects years of leadership and collaboration in advancing geoscience for sustainable development.

Read more about the awards: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/About/Awards-Grants-and-Bursaries/Society-Awards/Coke-Medals

04/03/2025

We are pleased to see Dr Joel Gill, GfGD’s Co-CEO, recognised with a Coke Medal in The Geological Society's 2025 awards.

Joel’s work—through GfGD and beyond—has contributed to strengthening the role of geoscience in sustainable development and supporting the wider geoscience community.

Read more about the award winners below:

The Geological Society is thrilled to announce the winners of its 2025 Society Awards and Funds for their significant achievements and contribution to the geoscience community. The formal presentation of awards will be celebrated on President’s Day, 11 June 2025, at Burlington House in London.

Please join us in congratulating the 2025 Award recipients!

Read the press release here: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/About/Press-Office/Press-Releases/2025-Society-award-winners

29/10/2024

🌍 Upcoming Webinar | Join us on October 30 at 2 PM GMT for "Interactive Approaches to Teach Geohazards and Disasters," hosted by the IUGS Commission on Geoscience Education (COGE) Public Outreach Commission and featuring our CEO, Dr. Joel Gill.

This webinar will bring together expert voices like Dr. Solmaz Mohadjer (Parsquake), Dr. Faith Taylor (King's College London), and Dr. Bruce D Malamud (Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, Durham University) to discuss effective, accessible strategies for teaching geohazards.

🔍 Register to explore approaches to equip educators and enhance disaster preparedness: 2c515113-2e25-4f83-8c5e-13d888d39130@212d40b9-6f20-4f85-98c1-6eeba0f03773" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/2c515113-2e25-4f83-8c5e-13d888d39130@212d40b9-6f20-4f85-98c1-6eeba0f03773

09/08/2024

🌍 Upcoming Webinar: Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities: Actions for Natural Hazard Scientists

Join us for our webinar on Thursday 15 August at 11.00 (BST). In this session, you can hear more about a new, free online course designed to enhance natural hazard scientists' engagement in disaster risk reduction (DRR).

This course aims to equip scientists with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

🗓 Date & Time:
Thursday 15 August, 11.00 (BST)

📅 For a full overview of our 2024 webinars and registration information, please visit our website: https://gfgd.org/webinars

🔗 Webinars will typically last for one hour, including both presented content and discussion.

Don't miss out on this session. We look forward to seeing you there!

25/06/2024

🌍 Upcoming Webinar: The Future We Want - Can Geoscientists Help Us Get There?

Join us for our repeated webinar on Thursday 4 July at 09.00 (BST). This session explores the UN 2030 Agenda, the vital role of geoscience in delivering this agenda, and the actions we can take to strengthen our contribution.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are science-intensive, requiring research, innovation, capacity strengthening, and technology transfer. In this webinar, our co-CEO Joel Gill will guide us through the essential role of geoscientists in achieving these goals.

🗓 Date & Time:
Thursday 4 July, 09.00 (BST)

📝 Webinar Highlights:
- Understanding the UN 2030 Agenda
- Exploring the role of geoscience in achieving the SDGs
- Actions to enhance the contribution of geoscientists
- Interactive session with comments and questions from attendees

For those who couldn't attend the previous session, this is a great opportunity to engage, share your thoughts, and learn more about how you can contribute to the SDGs as a student or early career professional.

📅 For a full overview of our 2024 webinars and registration information, please visit our website: https://www.gfgd.org/webinars

🔗 Webinars will typically last for one hour, including both presented content and discussion.

Don't miss out on this session. We look forward to seeing you there.

20/06/2024

🌍 GfGD Contributes to Free Online Course on Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities

Geology for Global Development (GfGD) has contributed to a new open-access e-learning course to enhance natural hazard scientists' engagement in disaster risk reduction (DRR). Titled "Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities: Actions for Natural Hazard Scientists," the course was announced at the European Geoscience Union’s General Assembly in Vienna and is available on the Open University’s ‘Open Learn’ platform.

The course features seven modules to help participants explore good practices, evaluate DRR approaches, and design effective research-based DRR activities. It aims to equip scientists with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

📚 Find out more and access the course: https://www.gfgd.org/news-events/2024/6/20/gfgd-contributes-to-free-online-course-on-building-sustainable-and-resilient-communities

07/06/2024

🌍 Leadership Update at Geology for Global Development 🌍

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Victoria O'Connor as Co-CEO of Geology for Global Development, working alongside Dr. Joel Gill. Viki brings two decades of industry experience, including over a decade in senior leadership roles, and will focus on operations and finance. Joel will continue to drive strategy, research, and engagement.

"We are very fortunate to have Viki's expertise and leadership skills within the organisation, and I'm confident this decision will be of enormous value to Geology for Global Development and our shared future." - Dr. Joel Gill, Co-CEO

“I’m delighted to take on the role of Co-CEO and build on the pioneering work that Joel has been doing to champion the role of geoscience in sustainable development.” - Viki O’Connor, Co-CEO

This strengthened leadership will be critical to achieving our goals of helping build a sustainable future for all by enhancing our understanding of, access to, and capacity to use geoscience for implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

20/05/2024

📣 We’re launching a new webinar series – exploring our research, outputs, policy engagement, and partnerships.

➡ Our first webinar in the series is on Friday 24 May, 12.00 (BST), titled ‘The Future We Want - Can Geoscientists Help Us Get There?’. Delivered by our co-CEO, Joel Gill, this webinar will explore the UN 2030 Agenda, the vital role of geoscience in delivering this agenda, and the actions we can take to strengthen our contribution.

➡ The webinar will be repeated on Thursday 4 July, 09.00 (BST) to enable those in different time zones to attend and share their comments and questions.

➡ For a full overview of webinars in 2024, and registration information, please visit our website: https://www.gfgd.org/webinars

➡ Webinars will typically last for one hour and will include both presented content and discussion.