OR/14/019 Introduction

Mitchell, C J, Nice, S E, Stevenson, J P, Thomas, J E, Nash, G V and Noakes, L. 2014. Broadcasting the science stories of BGS. British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/14/058.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is a world leading geological survey that focuses on public-good science for government, and research to understand earth and environmental processes. As an organisation, the BGS has an annual budget of approximately £50 million (of which 50% comes from the Natural Environment Research Council, NERC), 640 scientists and support staff, 150 current private sector customers and 20 unique science laboratories (For further details visit www.bgs.ac.uk).

Communication is the lifeblood of science and scientific achievement. The pursuit of scientific investigation builds on the findings of past scientists and leads to future scientific discoveries including those that are unpredicted and unsuspected by the present-day generation. Without the communication of scientific discoveries the world would be a very different place. It is important that scientists communicate their science to the wider world, explain its potential impact on society and ultimately satisfy those that provide their research funding. The BGS takes communications seriously as a means of not only establishing its expert credentials, but also to maintain its reputation, and as a means of raising awareness of the organisation.

This report outlines the communication strategy of the BGS. It explains how we will tell the wider world who the BGS is, what it does, and why it is important.