According to a study published in 2009 by Peter Doran (professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at UIC) that surveyed the 10,257 scientists listed as geosciences faculty at reporting academic institutions, along with researchers at state geologic surveys associated with local universities, and researchers at U.S. federal research facilities in the 2007 edition of the American Geological Institute's Directory of Geoscience Departments. Response rate was 30.7%. 90% of respondents had Ph.D.s and 7% had Master's Degrees as their highest level of education.


1. When compared with pre-1800s levels, do you think that mean global temperatures have generally risen, fallen, or remained relatively constant?

90% of respondents answered "risen"


2. Do you think human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures?

82% of respondents answered "yes"


Of particular interest is that 97.4% of respondents who consider climate study their area of expertise and have published more than 50% of their papers on the subject of climate answered "yes" to question 2.

The field containing the largest percentage of "No" answers to question 2 was petroleum geology with only 47% of respondents answering "Yes".


Citation information: Doran, P. (2009) EOS, 90, 3, 22-23.