Geology maybe has awfully nice teachers (5,7)

I believe the answer is:

earth science

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'geology maybe' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'awfully nice teachers' is the wordplay.
'awfully' is an anagram indicator.
'nice'+'teachers'='niceteachers'
'niceteachers' is an anagram of 'EARTH SCIENCE'.

'has' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for earth science that I've seen is " Geology is one".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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