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Geology is a fascinating and vast area of study which finds
application in various industries.
For students who enjoy geography love exploring land
surfaces and are fascinated by different types of soils and
rocks a career in geology would do justice to their
interests.
Geology is essentially the study
of the physical matter that constitutes the Earth. It is a
concentrated and popular area of study all over the world.
Explains a student of St Xavier’s College who is working in
the field after doing his MSc. ‘I loved geography in school
so when college offered me geology as a subject of study I
jumped at the option’.
A student of IIT Bombay geology
is a field which lets her explore the Earth and its surfaces
coupled with a tinge if adventure. I love trekking. Being a
geologist, my job isn’t restricted to the confines of a
room. So yes, though it may not sound like it, geology is a
very interesting and adventure filled profession.
Understanding
Geology
Although the subject is almost
three centuries old, most people still confuse it with other
branches of science. There are limited colleges which teach
the subject. Even today most students do not know of this
option.
The science of geology is vast
with several branches entailing in-depth study. For example,
engineering geology is the field where geological concepts
are applied to engineering operations. Historical geology
involves using geology to better understand the history of
the Earth, changes on the Earth’s surface and evolution.
Hydrogeology refers to the study of groundwater in the
Earth’s crust.
Petrology is the sphere of
geology which concentrates on rock formation, while
paleontology is the study of prehistoric life, evolution of
organisms and their interactions with each other / the
environment.
Career Scope
The career scope as a geologist is on the upswing. Earlier only government organizations would employ geologists. However, privatization boom and opening up of the mining sector has positively impacted the job scene. The demand for geologists is more than the supply.
Geologists have scope in several industries including mining
oil exploration, ceramics, cement construction, gemologists
(in the evaluation of gemstones) eco-tourism, environmental
monitoring, land surveying, ground water exploration,
watershed management etc. There is no field where an aspect
of the Earth is involved and a geologist is not needed.
Field jobs as a geologist could involve projects like
mapping assignments. For example the Geological Survey of
India has field assignments where a team is out in the
wilderness for six to eight months annually. Other jobs are
in oil rigs and oil exploration platforms.
One
opts for full time research after an MSC degree. As Shreyata
Sohni from K J Somaiya College who plans to do a research in
Himalayan tectonics says I always wished to enhance my
knowledge by exploring the land surfaces of the Himalayas
which are very important for our country.
Skill Sets
Samant says that
students wanting to pursue a career in geology should have
the following qualities: physical fitness; mental
preparedness to work away from home or civilization,
willingness to migrate and a willingness to get your hands
dirty doing field world. Additionally a strong base in
physics, chemistry and maths is an advantage. However, what
is most needed is a passion for the subject and the Earth.
Money Matters
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