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Because geologists have a natural curiosity which leads them to explore
the Earth’s history and its processes in pursuit of ways to improve human
life, they generally posses strong interpersonal and communication skills.
These skills, complemented by inquisitiveness, an analytical approach to
inquiries, and open mindedness, aid a geologist in moderating the influences
of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, and landslides, in locating
economic natural resources, and in determining the best methods of waste
disposal and remediation of contaminated areas. Because of the advancements
in technology, today’s student should support the major’s studies with
a strong basis in math, stats, and computers skills.
Work by geologists, who study the composition, processes, and history of
the Earth, and geophysicists, who use the principles of physics, math,
and chemistry to study the Earth’s surface and its internal composition,
is done both in the field and in the laboratory.
While a bachelor’s degree in geology will secure some entry-level positions,
the better qualified you are, the better position you can secure.
Students interested in a professional career in the geosciences should
prepare to continue their education into advanced degrees. A master’s
degree is required for major professional entry-level positions, with a
Ph.D. necessary for university teaching and to secure higher-level research
positions.
Geological scientists, or
geoscientists, can specialize in any number of one of the following:
SUB-DISCIPLINES
or SPECIALITY AREAS
Hydrogeologist:
Study abundance, distribution,
quality of ground water.
Glaciologist:
Study physical properties
and movement of glaciers and ice sheets.
Environmental
Geologist:
Solve problems with pollution,
waste disposal and urban development, and hazards such as flooding and
erosion.
Geomorphologists:
Study effect of earth processes
and investigate nature, origin, development of present land forms and their
relationship to underlying structures.
Paleoclimatologists:
Interpret past global changes
and predict future changes from past records.
Volcanologists:
Investigate volcanoes and
volcanic phenomena. |
Seismologist:
Study location and force
of earthquakes and trace behavior of earthquake waves to interpret structure
of Earth.
Petroleum
Geologist:
Exploration and production
of oil and natural gas.
Economic
Geologist:
Explore for and develop
geologic materials with profitable uses.
Engineering
Geologist:
Investigate geologic factors
that affect engineering structures such as bridges, buildings, airports,
and dams.
Geochemists:
Investigate the nature and
distribution of chemical elements in rocks and minerals.
Mineralogists:
Study formation, composition,
properties of minerals.
Sedimentologist:
Study sedimentary rocks
and processes of sediment formation, transportation and deposition. |
Paleontologist:
Study fossils to understand
past life forms and changes through time and to reconstruct past environments.
Petrologist:
Determine origin and genesis
of rocks by analyzing mineral or grain relationship.
Stratigrapher:
Investigate time and space
relationships of layered rocks and their fossil and mineral content.
Geophysicist:
Decipher Earth’s interior
and magnetic, electric, gravitational fields.
Atmospheric
Physicist:
Study effect of terrestrial,
atmospheric, and space-based forces on behavior of atmosphere.
Planetary
Geologist:
Study moon and other planets
to understand evolution of solar system. |
JOB
OUTLOOK
According to the
Occupational Outlook Handbook 2004 - 2005, employment of geoscientists
is expected to grow about as fast as the average through 2012. As
in any profession, employment depends on the country’s economic climate.
A presidency seeking expansion of oil and natural gas resources soon could
positively impact graduating geologists, both in government and industry.
Also, remember that one geoscientist in eight is self-employed as consultants
to both industry and government.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics
states that foreign-language speaking geoscientists willing to work abroad
will fare best in an atmosphere of growing worldwide oil demand - especially
in deep water and previously inaccessible sites. Thus, environmental
scientists and hydrologists are expected to grow faster than average.
EARNINGS
Median annual earnings of
geoscientists:
In 2002 = $67,470
National Association of Colleges
and Employers (NACE) in 2003:
Bachelor’s degree
= $32.8K
Master’s degree =
$47.9K
Federal Government in 2003
(20%):
In managerial, supervisory,
non-supervisory positions in:
Depts. of Interior [mostly
in US Geological Survey], Defense, Agriculture, Commerce, and Energy, and
the EPA.
Geologists
= $76.3K
Geophysicists = $86.8
Hydrologists = $70.5K
Oceanographers =
$79K
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American Geological
Institute
4220 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22302-1502
http://www.agiweb.org
Geological Society
of America
P. O. Box 9140
Boulder, CO 80301-9140
http://www.geosociety.org
American Association
of Petroleum Geologists
P.O. Box 979
Tulsa, OK 74101
http://www.aapg.org
American Geophysical
Union
2000Florida Avenue,
N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
http://www.agu.org
Society of Exploration
Geophysicists
8801 South Yale
Tulsa, OK 74137
http://www.seg.org
Geology Link Page for:
- GeoSocieties
- Government (Geologic
Surveys) nat’l & internat’l
- Specific Fields
of Study
- General Resources
http://www.realtime.net/~revenant/geo.html
Study
Abroad Scholarships, Fellowships, and Postdoctoral Awards
http://scholarships.fatomei.com/scholar14.html
Federal
Grants
http://www.fedmoney.org/grants/0-scholarships.htm
Free
Scholarship Info
http://www.scholarships.com/
More
Free Information
http://www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm
Scholarships
for International Study
http://www.iefa.org/
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