The practice of professional geoscience in Nova Scotia is defined and regulated by the Geoscience Profession Act of 2003. The Act grants self-governance to professional geoscientists because it was deemed to be in the public interest to do so. The driving consideration has always been public safety and welfare.
Professional geoscientists are accountable for their profession generally, for their own professional practice, and for the practice of professionals under their supervision. In addition to preserving ethical standards, professional members and license holders are responsible for ensuring that they, and those under their supervision or control, have maintained appropriate levels of competency. A pdf document describing the interpretation, explanation and examples of what constitutes the practice of professional geoscience under the Act, Policies and Procedures, Code Of Ethics
There are three elements to the definition of “professional geoscience” as defined in the Act.
1. An activity:
The following are examples of professional geoscience activities:
- geological surveys
- geochemical surveys
- geophysical surveys
- geomorphological surveys
- petrology and mineralogy studies
- mineral exploration
- mineral or fossil fuel, oil and gas exploration
- coal, gypsum, salt, potash exploration
- groundwater exploration, evaluation, development, protection, studies
- geoscientific interpretation and modeling (2-D and 3-D)
- remote sensing interpretation
- terrain and terrain stability analysis
- seismic and volcanism analysis
- environmental investigations, phased environmental site assessments and environmental impact assessments
- remedial action planning, site remediation
- monitoring, compliance, closure, reclamation and restoration
- expert testimony
- teaching of geoscience and supervision of geoscience students
- academic research in geoscience, that will or may be relied upon by other professionals or the public
2. The use of specialized knowledge, experience, understanding and application of the principles of geoscience
The specialized education, training and experience required in the practice of geoscience are reflected and specified in the Geoscience Profession Act and the by-laws of the Association as well as the guidelines established by the Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists and the Canadian Geoscience Standards Board.
APGNS considers the following examples of job titles that represent to the public that an individual is offering or providing professional geoscience services:
- Geoscientist
- Geologist
- Geophysicist
- Geochemist
- Geomorphologist
- Earth Scientist
- Hydrogeologist
- Environmental Geologist or Environmental Geoscientist
- Vice-President, Director or Manager of Exploration or Projects
3. Safeguarding of the public, property, and the environment
Because the work of a geoscientist involves activities that generate information which others use, and upon which decisions are made by others that may affect life, property and the natural environment, APGNS interprets all geoscience activities to require “the safeguarding of public welfare, life, health, property or economic interests”.
The definition and understanding of professional geoscience practice is fundamental to the interpretation of the Geoscience Profession Act and for the operation of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Nova Scotia (APGNS).