Understanding our Earth
We are a world-leading independent research organisation providing objective, expert geoscientific data, information and knowledge.
Latest news and events
Twenty years on: the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
26/12/2024
Boxing Day 2024 marks 20 years since the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Prof David Tappin reflects on the disaster and discusses what we have learnt since 2004.
Webinar: Underground Thermal Energy Storage (UTES) – Uncertainties and Benefits
Event on 15/01/2025
Join us for a special webinar which will introduce Underground Thermal Aquifer Storage and offer all interested parties the opportunity to participate in a workshop to be held in the Spring.
Carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of carbonates and the development of new reference materials
18/12/2024
Dr Charlotte Hipkiss and Kotryna Savickaite explore the importance of standard analysis when testing carbon and oxygen samples.
Airlines, shipping companies and sleigh drivers rush to update crucial navigation systems ahead of Christmas rush
17/12/2024
Release of major upgrade to a new model tracking magnetic north prompts global reset of satellite tracking systems across trade and passenger transport routes.
BGS awarded Athena SWAN Silver status
12/12/2024
BGS are delighted to have been awarded Athena SWAN Silver status in recognition of our ongoing commitment to gender equality
BGS makes significant advance in mineral data accessibility
10/12/2024
A new public application programming interface for the BGS World Mineral Statistics Database will revolutionise how users interact with critical data.
Dynamics of land-to-lake transfers in the Lake Victoria Basin
09/12/2024
In June 2024, a UK/Kenya research team shared research findings from a collaborative, four-year field and experimental programme within Kenya.
Prehistoric power: 250-million-year-old rocks could contain secrets to net zero future
05/12/2024
BGS has completed a comprehensive scan of Mercia Mudstone rocks that could hold geological secrets of the UK’s past and provide a boost for net zero.
The challenge of assessing the UK economy’s dependence on mineral supply
28/11/2024
Critical, essential, or just plain important? Dr Gavin Mudd, director of the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, discusses the findings and new methodology featured in the 2024 UK Criticality Assessment.
UK 2024 Criticality Assessment published
28/11/2024
The latest UK Criticality Assessment, produced by the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, shows that growing diversification brings an increasing vulnerability in terms of disruption to supply.
Brighid Ó Dochartaigh honoured with prestigious Geological Society award
27/11/2024
A recently retired BGS employee has been honoured for her contribution to the hydrogeological community.
Studying oxygen isotopes in sediments from Rutland Water Nature Reserve
20/11/2024
Chris Bengt visited Rutland Water as part of a project to determine human impact and environmental change in lake sediments.
Our core challenge areas
Decarbonisation and resource management
Decarbonisation of power production, heat, transport and industry is a major challenge and one that intrinsically involves geoscience.
Multi-hazards and resilience
We work with partners worldwide to enhance understanding of hazards, vulnerability, exposure and risk to ensure our science is useful, usable and used.
International geoscience
BGS is active across the globe delivering institutional strengthening programmes and applied research projects across a wide variety of sectors.
National geoscience
The National Geoscience programme is a forward-looking investment in UK geology that provides relevant, coherent and enriched geoscience knowledge for our stakeholders.
Digital geoscience
The BGS is a data-rich organisation. Our data science and data infrastructure are fundamental to our future research and underpin our strategic challenges.
Map viewers
Data published through map viewers allowing you to reveal more about the ground beneath your feet.
Technologies
Applications, software and online services created by the BGS and our collaborators.
Information hub
Data collections, publications, scanned records and other data gathered by BGS and provided by external organisations.
OpenGeoscience
Accessing maps and downloading data, scans, photos and other information via BGS’s free OpenGeoscience service.
Digital geoscience
The BGS is a data-rich organisation. Our data science and data infrastructure are fundamental to our future research and underpin our strategic challenges.
Digital data licensing and resellers
Providing a wide range of licences for the use and utilisation of our information products by for those interested in an information product and the Open Government Licence is not applicable.
National Geoscience Data Centre
Collecting and preserving geoscientific data, making it available to a wide range of users and communities.
National Geological Repository
Hosting BGS’s collections of borehole cores, cuttings, samples, specimens, and related subsurface information from the UK landmass and continental shelf.
Discovering Geology
Discovering Geology introduces a range of geoscience topics to school-age students and learners of all ages. Explore these pages to discover the fascinating processes and properties that shape our dynamic planet.
Rocks and minerals
Find out more about the differences between rocks and minerals and how they are formed.
Discovering Geology: climate change
What is the difference between weather and climate? what causes the Earth’s climate to change and what are the impacts? Find out more with our Discovery Geology climate change resources.
Earth hazards
The Earth beneath our feet is constantly shifting and moving, and violently with catastrophic and immediate results. Find out more about earth hazards.
Geological processes
Planet Earth is dynamic with a surface that is always changing. Find out about the processes that cause these changes.
Fossils and geological time
Take a look at the history of the Earth, from its formation over four and a half billion years ago to present times.
About BGS
As the national geological survey, we are the UK’s premier provider of objective and authoritative scientific data, information and knowledge to help society understand our Earth.
Our data and services
The BGS offers a range of services and information for businesses, home-owners, policymakers and the general public.
Working with us
BGS is committed to being an employer of choice and strives to embrace a culture of inclusivity and flexibility.
Offices and locations
Find out more about our offices and facilities located across the UK.
Contact us
Find out more about the BGS and the services we offer through our enquiries and customer services team.