全球范围的变化正在对许多科学学科产生重大影响,其中包括地质科学。这种变化的例子有:人口增长与城市化;污染与土地退化;全球变化;“新材料社会”。最后一种变化包含一种思想,即先进的技术将把经济从传统的对原生金属的高增长消耗引开。这种变化对地球科学的影响已积以时日。两个众所周知的例子是:在大学课程设置及就业市场中,重点已转向环境与工程地质科学;水作为资源正在引起世人的关注。这种转变会继续驱使地球科学各学科转向环境与社会应用方面。然而,在未来若干世纪内,对传统的地质科学在资源领域里的研究及产品仍将有强烈的需求。地质科学学科的社会朝向与资源朝向的需求须加以调节。这种调节可能以减低研究及军事行动所用资源的方式进行。为达到这个目的,地质科学必须不断地与其他学科沟通以共享资源和责任。我们需要不断地与客户保持联系,寻找产生税收的机会。我们也需要找到更好的方法向政治家、政策制定者以及公众证明能从地质科学的服务和产品中获取好处。 Changes across the globe are having a significant impact on many science disciplines, including geosciences. Examples of such changes are population growth and urbanization; pollution and land degradation; global change; and “new material society.” The last change involves the idea that advanced technology will take the economy away from the traditional high consumption of primary metals. The impact of such changes on earth science has taken a long time. Two well-known examples are: In the university curriculum and job market, the emphasis has shifted to environmental and engineering geology; water as a resource is drawing the world’s attention. This shift will continue to drive the earth sciences disciplines to environmental and social applications. However, in the coming centuries, there will still be strong demand for the research and products of traditional geosciences in the field of resources. The social orientation of geological sciences and the need of resource orientation need to be adjusted. Such adjustments may be made in a way that reduces the resources used for research and military operations. To do this, geosciences must constantly communicate with other disciplines to share resources and responsibilities. We need to constantly keep in touch with our customers and look for opportunities to generate revenue. We also need to find better ways to demonstrate the benefits to politicians, policymakers, and the general public from the services and products of geosciences.