The Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) is a unique mission-oriented academic entity embedded in the international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) of geological sciences. The AWG’s dealings are analysed as presented in newsletters and annual reports. A timeline (2006–2023) of events and activities illustrates the AWG’s functioning, including disruptive events, systemic quarrels and innovative partnerships, portraying: specific matters like the Geological Time Scale (GTS) as a scientific tool; intra-community struggles for epistemic leadership; the intellectual autonomy of the AWG to aggregate scientific concepts of Earth System Sciences (ESS) and geological Stratigraphy; and ways of cooperation of geosciences and social sciences and the workings of a bureaucratic, scientific apparatus. Analysis reveals the AWG as an autonomous academic collective nestled within the confines of a bureaucratic system yet displaying remarkable intellectual resilience amidst systemic challenges. The dealings of the AWG illustrate a specific ‘economy of knowledge’ engaging with promotors and being aware of the societal relevance of geoscience expertise. The findings describe AWG’s distinctive positioning within the scientific community, underscoring its pivotal role in shaping geological discourse despite being bureaucratically stalled.