The British Geological Survey (BGS) is a partly publicly-funded body which aims to advance geoscientific knowledge of the United Kingdom landmass and its continental shelf by means of systematic surveying, monitoring and research. Its annual budget is in the region of £37M, about half of which comes from the UK government's Science Budget, with the remainder coming from commissioned research from the public and private sectors.

It was founded in 1835, making it the world's oldest national geological survey. Between 1965 and 1984 it was known as the Institute of Geological Sciences. The BGS advises the UK government on all aspects of geoscience, as well as providing impartial advice on geological matters to the public, academics and industry. BGS is a component body of the UK Natural Environment Research Council which is the UK's leading body for basic, strategic and applied research and monitoring in the environmental sciences.

The core outputs of the BGS include geological, geophysical, geochemical and hydrogeological maps, descriptions and related digital databases. One of the key strategic aims for the next decade is to complete the transition from a 2 dimensional mapping to a 3 dimensional modelling culture.

The British Geological Survey has its headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire and centres in Edinburgh, Wallingford, Cardiff, Exeter and London

See also

• United States Geological Survey
• Saudi Geological Survey

External links

• British Geological Survey homepage
• Natural Environment Research Council homepage

1835 establishments | Geography of the United Kingdom | Geology of the United Kingdom | Science and technology in the United Kingdom