Earth sciences help protect our entire planet and all who dwell on it.
The Earth sciences field is key to maintaining our nation’s economic prosperity, safety, security and longtime standing as a global leader in scientific innovation. From identifying critical minerals to addressing natural hazards, our world’s future depends on Earth scientists. A robust workforce of seismologists, geologists, geophysicists and earthquake engineers is necessary to protect Americans and the places they live and work.
As we look ahead to the next decade, the demand for Earth sciences expertise will rise, with employment in this field projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034.* Without support for this growing sector, the U.S. will experience potential deficits in Earth, atmospheric, hydrologic and oceanographic sciences. This need will impact the private, federal and academic sectors.
It does not have to be this way
SSA urges U.S. policymakers to take the steps that will help grow and diversify our nation’s critically important pipeline of Earth sciences-focused talent. Federal investment in science starts with education, from K-12, through post-secondary (including community colleges) and advanced degrees. To achieve the needed robust candidate supply, we need to:
- Focus on curriculum development at the K-12 level to increase student involvement and sustain interest in all sciences, including Earth sciences;
- Enhance curriculum in Earth sciences, specifically at the 9-12 grade level to increase exposure to Earth sciences courses and pre-college skill sets;
- Ensure rigorous math, science, information technology, and data and computational sciences in K-12 education to improve technical skills of students, which are vital for many career prospects, including the Earth sciences;
- Provide enhanced training to K-12 educators to implement robust Earth sciences curriculum;
- Address resource and achievement gaps in Earth sciences education—for example, the lack of advanced science classes in some high schools limits the exposure to science, resulting in lower scores on college readiness tests, and the inability to gain admission into college/university science programs;
- Address the curriculum and learning pathways at the community college level and state universities to expose students to Earth sciences careers and align coursework and learning experiences with the demands of further education and careers in Earth sciences fields; and
- Support global research collaboration and educational opportunities, while advancing the participation of U.S. students studying and conducting U.S. and globally relevant research abroad.
Solving complex problems requires a broad number of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. To increase participation in the Earth sciences, the SSA recommends that U.S. policy makers:
- Support first-generation college attendees by expanding financial and skills support for these students at the federal and state level;
- Increase support for international scientists working in the U.S. through consistent visa policies;
- Support programs to expand the pool of K-12 school leadership through principal preparation and mentoring programs; and
- Support programs that draw in participants to the Earth sciences at all levels.
Earth sciences guide efforts to prepare for, reduce damage from, and rebuild after disasters caused by natural phenomena, as well as inform national security strategy. Earth sciences are essential to the production and management of energy and other subsurface resources; contribute to economic development and growth, mitigation of changes to the climate and the environment; and inform land-use management decisions and public safety. It is imperative that the U.S. cultivates and encourages the reliable pipeline of Earth scientists to address current and future needs of the nation. The Seismological Society of America strongly recommends that Congress support, grow and increase opportunities for our nation’s critically important pipeline of Earth sciences-focused talent.
* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Approved January 2026