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Studying Geology

Do you want a job where you can feel the earth move? – being a geologist can be ‘tremordness’ work

Did you feel the tremors from the recent earthquake that hit Britain?

Thankfully there was only limited damage and no loss of life.

But it’s on occasions like these that the people who predict such natural disasters are often quizzed by the media.

The warnings about imminent or unpredictable disasters often come from geologists and scientist in similar fields who often can be found working in harsh environments such as the steamy hot jungles of South America or the sub zero temperatures of the Antarctic

Geology is more than just studying rocks but aims to increase our knowledge of the Earth and to help us manage its natural resources in a safe and sustainable way.

The science has many practical applications in civil engineering and in the exploitation of the Earth's resources, such as building materials, minerals, oil, gas, coal and underground water. It is also concerned with the effects of extraction and use of raw materials on the environment.

Geologists contribute to studies of the causes and impacts of natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, ground collapse and volcanic eruptions, and they carry out surveys by collecting samples of rock, soil and water for analysis, conducting seismic surveys relating to earthquakes and earth tremors, drilling and remote-sensing from aircraft and satellites.

There are about 10,000 geologists and technical support staff in the UK, most of whom work in the oil sector, in an oil company, a consultancy or a service company that supports exploration and production. Large oil companies have their own research laboratories that investigate aspects such as techniques to increase recovery levels from existing oil fields.

The largest single employer of geologists in the UK is the British Geological Survey (BGS), which is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The BGS conducts various types of surveys to improve the geological knowledge of the UK and its continental shelf. BGS also has many projects overseas. NERC also employs a limited number of geologists in its other institutions, such as The British Antarctic Survey.

An increasing number of geologists work in the water industry. There also opportunities in civil engineering companies, mining and quarrying.

Geologists start on around £18,000 to £23,000 a year (more if they have a postgraduate degree). Experienced geologists earn around £35,000 a year with senior geologists on £80,000 or more. These figures can be boosted by allowances for working offshore or overseas.

As a geologist, you would need excellent spatial awareness and the practical skills required to use sophisticated instruments, together with good IT skills. You would sometimes work alone and sometimes as part of a team; you would need to be fit and healthy, since you could be working in physically challenging environments anywhere in the world.

Any colour blindness could be a serious problem. Good communication skills are essential for writing reports, making presentations and taking part in discussion with professional colleagues.

Working hours and conditions would depend on the type of work. If you are directly involved in exploration, surveys or production, you may work very long hours, possibly in extremely demanding conditions and in remote locations. Mining geologists, in particular, often work underground in wet and dirty conditions.

Other geologists may work more conventional office hours, although evening and weekend work may be necessary to meet deadlines.

You could often spend periods away from home, from a few days up to several months.

A bachelor's degree will admit you only to entry-level jobs but a master's degree is necessary for any advancement, and a Ph.D. is necessary for research, university teaching positions and many federal and state positions.

If you do pursue the subject in higher education expect to go on field trips as part of your degree work while it will also help to do internships. You should also be prepared for outdoor work so you may require stamina for some challenging conditions.

It’s also helpful for you decide early on which geological subfield most interests you and take courses accordingly. Areas of study might include mineralogy, hydrology, hazardous waste management, environmental legislation, chemistry, oceanography, physics and cartography.

Other points for you for consider are:

• Gain experience with digital mapping, geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). It will help you enter the job market.

• Understand that office work, lab work and outdoor fieldwork are part of a geologist's life, especially during the early years of a career.

• Be prepared for possible work in remote locations during your early years as a geologist. You may often have to stay in touch with your family via a cell phone.

• Understand that as a geologist you'll need to work successfully as part of a team. If you tend to be a loner, this is not the career for you.

• Be aware that hiring on a contractual basis is fairly common in geological work related to the oil and gas industries. Permanent jobs are not the norm.

Geologists may specialise in sectors such as:

· Oil Exploration - producing geological maps, selecting sites for surveys and production, advising on drilling operations and collecting and analysing samples from drilling.

· Mining and Quarrying - using information from surveys and underground geological features to give advice on exploration, production and future developments, including restoring sites afterwards.

· Water Industry - working out the effects of geological structures, pollution and mines on underground water.

· Civil Engineering - assessing the effect of ground conditions on the construction of buildings, roads and bridges, and advising on how to avoid or reduce problems caused by subsidence, landslides and earthquakes.

· Environmental Geology - advising on sites for waste disposal, contaminated land and erosion.

The normal qualification to become a geologist is a first degree in one of the geosciences. About 50 universities in the UK offer relevant first-degree courses, in subjects such as geology, geophysics, geochemistry, petroleum geology, engineering geology and exploration geology. The Geological Society has a list of courses that are accepted as the first stage in becoming a chartered geologist. All courses include fieldwork and the development of information and communication technology skills.

For entry to these courses, you would need at least two A levels/three H grades and five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3), or equivalent qualifications. For most courses, English at GCSE/S grade (A-C/1-3) is essential, and technical subjects and a foreign language are useful. Subjects preferred are physics, chemistry, biology, geology and a maths subject, but geology is not essential. Many universities demand more than these minimum requirements.

The British Geological Survey has programmes of training and development for their staff at all stages of their careers. Training is a mixture of learning on the job, attending short courses and field trips, and self-managed learning.

Many graduates go on to postgraduate study. Some employers would provide support for you to take a part-time postgraduate degree.

You can apply to the Geological Society for accreditation as a chartered geologist. The requirements are an appropriate qualification and a period of relevant work experience.

Alternative areas of work might include cartographer, civil engineer, hydrographic surveyor, land surveyor, mining engineer or oceanographer.

More info:

Geological Society: www.geolsoc.org.uk
British Geological Survey: www.bgs.ac.uk
Cogent: www.cogent-ssc.com
Natural Environment Research Council: www.nerc.ac.uk
Oil Careers: www.oilcareers.com
SEMTA: www.semta.org.uk