Website services disruption – 7 to 10 March
Due to scheduled server maintenance there may be temporary disruption to some of our online services and applications between 15:00 on Friday 7th and 12:00 Monday 10th March.
Applications that may be affected include the BGS GeoIndex, Geology Viewer, online shop and GeoReports. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Understanding our Earth
We are a world-leading independent research organisation providing objective, expert geoscientific data, information and knowledge.
Latest news and events
Critical Mineral Intelligence Centre hosts second conference
28/02/2025
The Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre conference took place at BGS’s headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire.
Dr Kathryn Goodenough honoured with prestigious award from The Geological Society
27/02/2025
Dr Kathryn Goodenough has been awarded the Coke Medal, which recognises those who have made a significant contribution to science.
Call for new members and Chair to join the NERC facilities steering committees
18/02/2025
New members are needed to join the committees over the next four years.
BGS announces new director of BGS National Geoscience
12/02/2025
BGS announces its new director of BGS National Geoscience.
NERC Tech Forum 2025
Event from 03/06/2025 to 05/06/2025
The primary aim of the meeting is networking within technology areas in NERC and related research centres.
Artificial intelligence is proving a game changer in tracking the Santorini earthquake swarm
07/02/2025
Scientists are harnessing the power of machine learning to help residents and tourists by detecting thousands of seismic events.
Pioneering tool expanding to analyse agricultural pollution and support water-quality interventions
06/02/2025
An online tool that shows which roads are most likely to cause river pollution is being expanded to incorporate methods to assess pollution from agricultural areas.
Vacancy: Chair of the BGS Board
04/02/2025
The Chair of the BGS Board’s role is crucial in guiding BGS and advancing its work in geoscience, ensuring strong governance and delivering public value.
Seabed geology data: results from stakeholder consultation
31/01/2025
BGS collected valuable stakeholder feedback as part of a new Crown Estate-led initiative to improve understanding of national-scale seabed geology requirements.
Could underground disposal of carbon dioxide help to reduce India’s emissions?
28/01/2025
BGS geologists have partnered with research institutes in India to explore the potential for carbon capture and storage, with an emphasis on storage.
New Memorandum of Understanding paves the way for more collaborative research in the Philippines
21/01/2025
The partnership will focus on research on multi-hazard preparedness within the country.
New global space weather hazard index launched
17/01/2025
The new index provides a near-real time, global picture of geomagnetic variations helping to highlight the effects of space weather.
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.