Between fieldwork and classroom training: the Geological School and the early geological surveys of China (1913–1916)

In 1913, the Geological School, affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, was established in order to train specialists to carry out geological surveys in China.Between 1913 and 1916, a number of talented individuals from diverse educational backgrounds followed courses at the Geological School and on graduation these qualified professionals enabled China to conduct independent geological surveys.Based on primary sources, this paper analyzes the establishment process of the Geological School and traces the routes along which geological surveys were conducted in the Late Qing Era in China.Furthermore, given the nation's urgent need for geological specialists, an examination of the development of geology in China during this threeyear period reveals that the establishment of the Geological School was the only viable solution at that time.