Geological Society of South Africa

14/10/2026

What does a career in geoscience actually look like? And how do you navigate the twists, turns and opportunities along the way?

President of the GSSA, Noleen Pauls, had the pleasure of chatting with two long-time friends, Petro du Pisani and Pamela Naidoo-Ameglio, at the SAGA conference about their very different career journeys.

They shared stories about the paths they’ve taken, the skills that matter beyond technical expertise, navigating the hard parts, the value of mentors and networks, and the opportunities that come from staying curious and being open to change.

Three different journeys, plenty of shared experiences, and one important message for the next generation of geoscientists: you don’t have to have your whole career mapped out from the beginning. Keep learning, do your work well, build relationships and be open to opportunities you may never have imagined.

A career is rarely a straight line — and that’s part of what makes the journey interesting!

10/10/2026

🌍 World Mental Health Day | 10 October

Looking after the people behind the geology. 💚

Geoscience can be demanding, from long hours in the field to time away from loved ones. Today, we’re reminded that the wellbeing of our people matters just as much as the work we do.

Let’s build a geoscience community where checking in, listening without judgement and asking for help are encouraged.

Because looking after people is just as important as understanding our planet. 🌍

08/10/2026

Welcome, Siyanda! We wish you every success in your new role and look forward to working with you 🌍

08/10/2026

From “What is this?” to “What happened here?”
That was one of the key takeaways from GSSA mentee Njabulo Dlamini’s experience at the recent Structural Geology Course and Field Trip in Southbroom.

Presented by Prof. Mike Watkeys, the course brought structural geology to life in the field — connecting observations, measurements and geological history.

Sometimes the best classroom really is an outcrop 👣🪨

15/09/2026

💎 FROM PRESENTATION TO FIELD TRIP 💎

The last two day of the Lichtenburg 100 Centenary Conference took us into the field, where Mike de Wit led us through the geology of the Lichtenburg Diamond Fields.

After two days of presentations and discussions, it was exciting to see the geology we had been learning about brought to life in the field, connecting the science, interpretations and discussions to what we could actually observe on the ground. ⛏️🌍

A great way to close the conference and celebrate 100 years of Lichtenburg’s diamond history!

11/09/2026

💎 DAY 2 | LICHTENBURG 100 💎

We’re back for Day 2 of the Lichtenburg 100 Centenary Conference, celebrating 100 years since the discovery of the Lichtenburg Diamond Fields.

Today we’re digging deeper into the story behind these extraordinary diamonds — from South Africa’s diamond placers and the Bakerville gravels to structural controls, regional geology and the processes that created and preserved these deposits.

And, of course, the question that has intrigued geoscientists for a century…

💎 Where did the Lichtenburg diamonds come from?

A day of great science, new thinking, different interpretations and plenty of geological debate. Just the way we like it! ⛏️🌍

07/09/2026

🌍 THE TRUE SIZE OF AFRICA

The United Nations General Assembly has endorsed the use of map projections that more accurately represent the relative sizes of continents.

Africa covers approximately 30.3 million km² which is nearly 14 times the size of Greenland and about three times the size of Canada. However, the widely used Mercator projection has historically made Africa appear much smaller in comparison with northern landmasses.

The resolution encourages the use of the Equal Earth projection when relative size matters. As Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey, stated:

“A fair map does not change the geography of the world; it changes how we see the world.”

For geoscientists, maps are more than illustrations, they shape how we interpret, communicate and understand our planet.

Source: United Nations News

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/09/1168284

07/09/2026

On today's agenda, the GSSA is at Africa’s largest mining, electrical, automation, manufacturing, and power trade show, the Electra Mining Africa Exhibit 2026!! The theme for today is Future Skills and Careers Day.

​Whether you’re looking to expand your professional network, learn more about our upcoming workshops and opportunities, or simply catch up with us, drop by our stand, chat with our team, and let’s discuss the future of South African geology and mining. See you there! ⛏️💎

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who shares their time, knowledge and expertise with the GSSA community.

To the organisations that make it possible by supporting their teams, thank you for investing in the future of geoscience.

Together, we inspire, mentor and grow.