The "Geoethical Promise"

 

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New version

The new "Geoethical Promise" is part of the "Cape Town Statement on Geoethics", approved by the IAPG Executive Council on 26th October 2016:

 

I promise…
… I will practice geosciences being fully aware of the societal implications, and I will do my best for the protection of the Earth system for the benefit of humankind.
… I understand my responsibilities towards society, future generations and the Earth for sustainable development.
… I will put the interest of society foremost in my work.
… I will never misuse my geoscience knowledge, resisting constraint or coercion.
… I will always be ready to provide my professional assistance when needed, and will be impartial in making my expertise available to decision makers.
… I will continue lifelong development of my geoscientific knowledge.
… I will always maintain intellectual honesty in my work, being aware of the limits of my competencies and skills.
… I will act to foster progress in the geosciences, the sharing of geoscientific knowledge, and the dissemination of the geoethical approach.
… I will always be fully respectful of Earth processes in my work as a geoscientist.
I promise!

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Previous version

The members of the Italian Commission on Geoethics of the Italian Federation of Earth Sciences published an interesting article on Episodes (the Journal of the IUGS - International Union of Geological Sciences):

 

Matteucci R., Gosso G., Peppoloni S., Piacente S., Wasowski J. (2014). The Geoethical Promise: A Proposal. Episodes, vol. 37, n. 3, pp. 190-191.

 

Those colleagues (among them, the IAPG Secretary General, Silvia Peppoloni) proposed a Hippocratic-like oath for geoscientists: the "Geoethical Promise". Here the formula:

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I promise I will practice geosciences being fully aware of the involved social implications, and I will do my best for the protection of geosphere for the benefit of mankind.

I know my responsibilities towards society, future generations and the Earth for a sustainable development.

In my job I will put the interest of society at large in the first place.

I will never misuse my geological knowledge, not even under constraint.

I will always be ready to provide my professional assistance when needed; I will always make my expertise available to decision makers.

I will continue to improve my geological knowledge lifelong and I will always maintain my intellectual honesty at work, being aware of the limits of my capabilities and possibilities.

I will act to foster progress in geosciences, the dissemination of geological knowledge and the spreading of the geoethical approach to the management of land and geological resources.

I will honor my promise that in my work as a geoscientist or certified geologist will be fully respectful of Earth processes.

I promise

 

The authors "think that a geoethical approach to the geosphere-society relationship is necessary in the epoch in which we live. Geoscientists have to improve their awareness of the geoethical dimension and the importance for sustainable development of their work in geosciences. The introduction of a Hippocratic-like oath for young geoscientists - the geoethical promise - could be a way for this purpose. A draft text is proposed for discussion".

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The Geoethical Promise in the Italian ceremony of the master degree in geology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy), 19 July 2018

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As announced by Silvia Peppoloni (IAPG Secretary General) at the 72nd IUGS EC meeting in Potsdam (Germany) on 22-26 January 2018, the “Geoethical Promise” has been included as official declaration during the ceremony for the geological master degree in the Italian Universities, thanks to the cooperation of the IAPG-Italy and the Italian Geological Society.

 

On 19 July 2018, the "Geoethical Promise" was read at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) during the cerimony of the master degree in geology.

 

This was a memorable event! We hope the "Geoethical Promise" will be adopted in many Universities all over the world!

 

We remind you that the "Geoethical Promise" (avalilable in 36 languages) is included in the "Cape Town Statement on Geoethics", supported by 28 geoscience organizations.

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Silvia Peppoloni said that "... Who in these years has worked hard with me to achieve this result can understand the emotion that I have felt looking at these images, and also the joy and the awareness of having left a mark in the history of geosciences.

I can only thank all those who have helped me, and in particular Prof. Sandra Piacente and Prof. Elisabetta Erba, not by chance two women: their sensitivity and support have made possible the officialization of this symbolic act, full of meaning for those like me who believe in the ethical and social value of our profession as geologists, in the cultural and educational power of our beloved geo-disciplines ..."

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