|
Tell me about it
Geologists aim to increase our knowledge of the Earth and to help
us manage its natural resources, ideally in a safe and sustainable
way.
Geology has 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.
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.
Entry level
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.
Making the grade
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.
Personal qualities
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 would be essential for writing reports, making
presentations and participating in discussion with professional
colleagues.
Looking ahead
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 enhance our 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.
Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities might include cartographer,
civil engineer, hydrographic surveyor,
land surveyor, mining
engineer or oceanographer.
Take-home pay
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. Senior geologists may earn as
much as £80,000 or more.
These figures can be supplemented by allowances for such things
as working offshore or overseas.
Effects
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.
Sources of information
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
CRCI: TB
|
