none 10.1144/geoenergy2025-014 Geological Society of London Geological Society of London 1881 181397768 513106 2025120407025000716 10.1144 2025-12-04T15:03:01Z 2025-08-26T14:30:41Z 2 Geoenergy Geoenergy 2755-1725 02 05 2025 12 2025 3 1 Michael H. Stephenson Stephenson Geoscience Consulting Ltd, 14 Thelda Avenue, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5HU, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9881-1578 Hassina Mouri University of Johannesburg Johannesburg, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9852-7403 Olugbenga Okunlola University of Ibadan Ibadan, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9302-8496 Monica Chamussa ENH Maputo, Mozambique Li Cheng China University of Geosciences Beijing Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8898-4493 Meng Wang Xinjiang Institute of Geography: Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography Ürümqi, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9606-6308 Yu Zhao China University of Geosciences Beijing Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5554-359X Liying Yang National Science Library Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5539-9934 Liping Gu National Science Library Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3665-9670 Shadrach Sheriff DMW LOVOL Engineering Ltd Lagos, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1683-2365 Chengshan Wang China University of Geosciences Beijing Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7403-0582 The population of Africa is growing at a rate of over 2.3% per year, the highest rate of growth among the continents, and it contained the world's 20 fastest-growing economies in 2024. Its economy is partly driven by its large resources of minerals, oil and diamonds, and its rapidly growing population. Geoscience research, knowledge and application will be vital for the sustainable use of these resources. A bibliometric analysis from 2014 to 2024 reveals that Africa is under-represented in elements of geoscience research for the energy transition (carbon capture and storage, critical minerals, geothermal), as well as in advanced data science, for example machine learning and artificial intelligence, both of which are likely to form a part of the geoscience solutions to energy transition challenges. This representation is shown in terms of the small number of papers published on Africa, and more crucially those on Africa that are led by Africa-based researchers. The situation could be improved by provision of competitive salaries for African academics, as well as encouraging foreign researchers to develop collaborators in Africa, including building more sustainability and less dependency into African research funding. Aid ‘paternalism’ can be counteracted by schemes that encourage local agency, and capacity building in Africa. 09 30 2025 12 2025 geoenergy2025-014 10.1144/geoenergy2025-014 1 10.1144/crossmark-policy www.lyellcollection.org true 2025-04-25 2025-07-29 2025-08-13 2025-09-30 National Natural Science Foundation China http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001809 42488201 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 10.1144/geoenergy2025-014 https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/10.1144/geoenergy2025-014 https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/pdf/10.1144/geoenergy2025-014 https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geoenergy/article/3/1/geoenergy2025-014/660829/energy-transition-geoscience-is-an-urgent-research https://geoscienceworld.org/geoenergy/article-lookup?doi=10.1144/geoenergy2025-014 10.2118/221722-MS 10.1126/science.aax6796 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.105046 10.1016/j.geogeo.2025.100361 Duflo E. 2012. Tanner Lecture May 2012 https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2022-08/2012.05%20TannerLectures_EstherDuflo_draft.pdf 10.1186/s40517-022-00219-1 Harle J. 2010. Growing Knowledge: Access to Research in East and Southern African Universities. The Association of Commonwealth Universities. International Energy Agency 2022. World Energy Outlook https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2022 International Energy Agency 2023. World Energy Outlook https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2023 10.9734/jenrr/2019/v2i129722 10.1162/qss_a_00210 Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air MacKay D. 2009 MacKay, D. 2009. Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air. UIT. 10.35241/emeraldopenres.13325.1 10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103262 10.1130/2013.2500(19) Energy and Climate Change: An Introduction to Geological Controls, Interventions and Mitigations Stephenson M.H. 2018 Stephenson, M.H. 2018. Energy and Climate Change: An Introduction to Geological Controls, Interventions and Mitigations. Elsevier. 10.1007/978-3-030-38815-7_7 10.1144/petgeo2019-084 10.18814/epiiugs/2020/020057 10.1144/geoenergy2023-001 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.12.37 UNESCO 2022. Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381137 10.1093/nsr/nwab027 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.126296 10.2478/jdis-2024-0023