Geologist
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
Careers in Natural Resources and the Environment
