Student enrolment in geology from a systemic earth science education perspective: an Italian case study

The knowledge of our planet should represent a common background for active and responsible citizenship and should be provided by the school. Although earth science is present in all Italian school curricula, most teachers do not have a strong geological background and that affects earth science education. On the other hand, the number of students that enrol in geology as an academic major has significantly decreased in the last 20 years. In this paper we suggest that the teaching should be suggested to geology students as a career possibility, so to improve the quality of the geological education in school and also on the enrolment in geology courses.