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A career in geology is like going on a geological expedition - full of challenges, mysteries, and discoveries about what makes and breaks our planet! In geology, you dive deep into the fascinating science of rocks, minerals, tectonic plates, seismic activity, fossil fuels, and more, trying to answer questions like "Why do volcanoes erupt?" or "How are ores formed?" So if you're a high school student or recent graduate with an interest or passion for rocks, geology offers a wide range of opportunities that may fit your interests.
In this article, we're going to talk in detail about what exactly geology is, some other similar geo-fields, and the study and career prospects in this niche. So, let's read on to learn more or find your next geology job on GoGeoGo.
The word geology comes from two Greek words: geo, meaning earth, and logos, meaning teaching. This makes it the science that teaches us about our planet Earth. Broadly speaking, geologists study Earth materials, Earth processes, and Earth history, with the first two being categorized under physical geology and the last under historical geology.
Often referred to as the primary Earth science, geology is the study of the Earth that examines how it was formed, the structure and composition of its materials, and the processes that affect them. The time component is also crucial in geology, as it maps the changes in materials and properties over time. Geology has several branches such as hydrogeology, geophysics, geochemistry, etc.
In the geosphere, we have several fields that focus on the Earth and its environment and are closely related. For example, we have geography, earth science, and geology, which are often confused with each other, but have distinct differences. Let's take a look.
Geography is the study of the Earth's surface and the processes that shape it. This means that in geography you would study the physical features of the Earth, from mountains to oceans, as well as human interactions with these features.
Earth science, on the other hand, is a broader field, with several sub-disciplines, that deals with the study of the Earth, both above and below its surface. It studies the atmosphere and oceans, as well as rocks and ores. Overall, it seeks to understand Earth's place in the universe.
Finally, as you have probably already guessed, geology is a sub-discipline of earth science and studies rocks and minerals and the processes involved in their creation, shaping, and transformation.
Another field of study often confused with geology is geodesy. Geodesists also study the Earth, but theirs is a high-precision science focused on mapping and measuring the Earth, specifically its three fundamental properties - geometry, orientation, and gravity field.
A career in geodesy also requires a strong technical aptitude. If attention to detail and high levels of accuracy sound exciting to you, find out more here!
Hydrogeology, or geohydrology, is also a sub-discipline of geology that studies groundwater. More specifically, it is the study of how water percolates into the ground, how it moves in the subsurface, and how it interacts with the surrounding rocks, minerals, and soils.
Thus, while hydrogeology focuses on groundwater, it interacts with geology in the interaction of groundwater with rocks - the thematic focus of geology.
So far we've talked about geo-fields related to geology, now let's take a closer look at geology and its sub-disciplines and their career prospects. Geology is a truly multidisciplinary field, with applications in many areas of academia, education, politics, government, NGOs, and industry.
As a geologist, you will develop core skills in computing as well as mathematics, physics and chemistry, and can choose from a wide range of careers including petrology, lithology, geochemistry, paleontology, mineralogy, to name but a few.
While each of these roles differ in their specific focus and skill set, geology employers are generally looking for strong computer skills (GIS, etc.), analytical skills, and some prior laboratory or field experience.
Let's take a look at some of the classic roles associated with the field and what their typical day-to-day responsibilities look like.
The classic geologist is a generalist, sought after by various industries such as mining, oil and gas, and is primarily responsible for identifying natural resources, including mapping and characterizing potential threats and hazards. Based on the information gathered, they are responsible for advising on land use planning and development. Of course, as you can imagine, geologists are critical players in our sustainable development efforts.
Broadly speaking, a geologist's responsibilities can be categorised as follows
We've briefly mentioned the different profiles a geologist can have depending on their niche - from environmental to seismology, volcanology, geotechnical, structural geology, and so on. All of these technical specialties are relevant when it comes to the construction or building industry.
All types of construction such as roads, bridges, buildings, tunnels, housing, railways and mines benefit greatly from the input and services of a geologist. A geologist is trained to provide expertise on what type of rock to use to build what, what minerals can be drilled from where, how to adjust mining operations to seismic activity, and so on.
Some other popular sectors where geologists find work include:
In Germany, geology is a subject that can be studied extensively at university level. Bachelor's degrees are often broader, such as B.Sc. Geosciences, and help you develop a broad generalist knowledge of a wide range of geo-related fields. Master's and Ph.D. programs, on the other hand, allow students to further specialise in a broader field or to go deeper into one, such as a Master's in Geology or Marine Geosciences.
Master's degrees in geology in Germany are often 4 semesters long and taught entirely in English. The standard requirements for admission are a good bachelor's degree in geology or a closely related field, a strong aptitude for the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, mathematics, or biology) as demonstrated by previous coursework and relevant internships. Some universities also require a GRE and IELTS or TOEFL test.
Despite some degree of variation, the most commonly taught modules are as follows:
Other not-so-common but popular and specialised modules include:
Besides course modules, most degrees also have mandatory requirements for fieldwork and industry internships as well.
The non-traditional distance learning option is also widely accepted in Germany in relation to the study of geology. People have the option to pursue university-level degrees remotely, either in formats similar to those in on-site programs or with the flexibility to choose independent modules.
There are also options to do expert diplomas in geology online, which generally have fewer credits and are much easier on the pocket.
Once you enter a geology program, one of the first decisions you have to make is whether you want to pursue an academic or an industrial career. If it's the latter, you'll want to get hands-on experience through relevant internships during your studies.
Voluntary internships of at least 3–6 months will allow you to better identify your interests, help you gain relevant practical experience, and show a proactive attitude that will look great to employers when you're trying to enter the field as a young professional.
Most universities have their own internal job boards where they regularly post upcoming internships and part-time jobs for you to apply. You can also use the standard job boards and job search platforms to find internships for yourself to make your profile stand out.
We've already mentioned above that the door to government, NGOs, industry, and educational and research institutions is open to geologists. As a trained professional with a university degree and/or professional diploma, you can work as a geological engineer, environmental consultant, geoscientist, hydrographic surveyor, quarry manager, paleontologist, and much more.
The most common industry employers are in the petroleum, mining and construction industries; NGO employers have an educational or environmental focus; and government employers are in planning, regulation and protection departments.
Given the breadth of career tracks that a geologist can take across sectors, the salary varies drastically. Here are a few profiles to consider.
A professional in the geoscience sector can start earning around 36,000 €, earning upto 74,000 € with experience.
The average salary of a classic geologist is around 49,000 €.
Geologists with a master’s degree and several years of work experience can earn as much as 74,000 €.
Geology engineers are very popular in the industry and have a high average salary of around 55,000 €, going up to 76,300 € for more years of experience.
Geotechnic salaries start at a relatively lower end of around 28,000 €, but catch up with other professionals in the industry on the higher end.
Geology is the science that studies the earth's composition, history, and related processes and how they are affected over time. While closely related to other geosciences such as geography, geodesy, hydrogeology, etc., geology's primary focus is on rocks and minerals and the processes that affect them.
A typical geologist is involved in fieldwork, data analysis, research, documentation, and consulting in a variety of fields. Geologists have several unique study options available to them, both at the university and diploma level, ranging from generalist to hyper-specialist, depending on their needs. Ultimately, geologists can work in a wide range of professions, from engineering to consulting, teaching and research - find relevant jobs on GoGeoGo!
How do geologists contribute to climate change mitigation efforts?
Geologists are trained to assess, map, and measure indicators such as seismic activity or tectonic plate movement, making them competent to predict natural hazards with varying degrees of accuracy and to urge stakeholders to take action to support public safety.
Can geologists work in space exploration?
Similar to the study of Earth, geologists have the transferable skills to study, understand, and interpret the geological features of other planets, stars, and objects that can help space exploration missions.
Can geologists transition to a career in renewable energy?
Yes, geologists already have a strong background in subsurface conditions that make them ideal candidates for transitioning to renewable energy, such as geothermal energy, and exploring work related to carbon capture and storage, for example.
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