The Geological Society is a not-for-profit organisation, and a registered charity (no. 210161).
Our aims are to improve knowledge and understanding of the Earth, to promote Earth & planetary science education and awareness, and to promote professional excellence and ethical standards in the work of Earth and planetary scientists, for the public good. We do this in a number of ways, including via education and outreach events, schools’ workshops, scientific meetings, public lectures, and conferences, and with our extensive publications, library, archive and map collections that are available to our members and visiting researchers worldwide.
We are also the UK’s professional body and learned society for geoscience, supporting and informing both scientists and the public. We do this by providing a wide range of services for geoscientists to make sure the public is supported by a professional and scientific community operating at a high level of competence and integrity, including with the provision of training courses, university degree accreditation internationally, our journals and books series, and with our extensive policy work both domestically and internationally via our collaborators and partners across the globe.
Our Annual Review, and our Annual Financial Reports provide a detailed overview of our work over the past year, and reports for previous years are also available. You can find these below or in our governance archive.
The Society has a Royal Charter and our purposes are set out in our Bye-laws as follows:
"investigating the Mineral structure of the Earth".
This remit is discharged by:
- improving knowledge and understanding of the history, structure, constitution and dynamics of the Earth and its processes; and
- promoting all forms of education, awareness and understanding of the Earth and their practical applications for the benefit of the public globally; and
- promoting professional excellence and ethical standards in the Earth Sciences for the public good.
It should be noted that the Society undertook a review of these Byelaws and our Royal Charter between 2022 and 2024, including an extensive consultation with Fellows and stakeholders. This has led to a draft revision of both governing documents, and if the revisions are approved by Fellows, the Privy Council and the King then there will be some small changes to the purposes set out above. These changes would likely take effect during late 2025 or early 2026.
