If you take a look at the website of the British Geological Survey, you’ll see that its primary role is the production of geoscience knowledge. No surprise there. But is that enough? Karen Hanhøj, the new director of the BGS, thinks that its mission needs to go further. She argues that geoscience needs to be a more outward looking discipline. It isn’t enough simply to do research - to produce geoscience knowledge. It's also vitally important that we make people aware that geoscientists have information that is relevant to public debate and the policy making process. Too often geoscientists are just not at the table when policy issues that are underpinned by geological science are being debated. This conversation with Karen is rich with insights that come from a career spent at the interface between business, science and policy making. The conversation involves Iain Stewart, Cam McCuaig and Neil Evans - along with Karen.  As is so often the case, it begins by looking at the biggest challenges facing geoscience today.