It’s common for many to see a beautiful rock somewhere on a riverbank and take it home. But beyond just the beauty of the rock, if you are interested in learning about it in depth, including its origins, how old it is and what it contains, geology is an excellent option for you. Geology is the study of the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the structure of those materials, and the processes acting upon them as well. It is an interesting subject with a lot of job opportunities in various fields.
FUTURE SCOPES OF CAREER IN GEOLOGY
- The employment of mining and geological engineers is projected to grow by 3% from 2018 to 2028. Engineering geology is an associate field.
- The graduates from this field can go for academia, environmental consulting and management services, hydrology, meteorology, oil and gas extraction, petroleum companies, museums and environmental NGOs.
- Major oil companies and a lot of oil-field support services companies hire geology graduates with high salaries and great benefits.
- There are mining and quarrying operations all over the country and abroad. Geology graduates can get jobs in various positions in this industry.
- By specialising in environmental geology, you could work for a government agency, a company that wants to ensure its compliance with environmental regulations or a private environmental consulting company.
- Engineers need geologists’ assistance for irrigation projects, thermal/hydel/nuclear power and communication infrastructure projects like bridges, tunnels, roads etc.
- Geologists can work with research teams in places like the Arctic, Antarctica, Southern Ocean or Himalayas. They are known as Expeditionaries, and this will be an exciting opportunity for those who love to travel and learn.
- Scientific publications need geology graduates in various positions, such as writers or editors.
SKILLS REQUIRED TO STUDY GEOLOGY
- Ability to visualise
- Good scientific/technical skills
- An adventurous streak to be an explorer
- Physical fitness, self-reliance and resourcefulness
- Ability to interpret statistical and graphical information
- Maths knowledge.
- Knowledge of geography.
- Analytical thinking skills.
- Excellent verbal communication skills.
- Knowledge of engineering science and technology.
- Knowledge of physics.
- Knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals.
- The ability to come up with new ways of doing things.
- Attention to detail
- Report-writing skills
CAREERS IN GEOLOGY
- Geologist
- Scientist/Analyst
- Lecturer/Professor
- Lab in charge
- A technical officer or specialist
- Scientific officer
- Consultant
- Scientific Journalist/editor
- Expeditioner
- Palaeontologist
- Mineralogist
- Petrographer
- Oceanographer
ELIGIBILITY TO DO A DEGREE IN GEOLOGY
Students who have passed 10+2 under the science stream are eligible
ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS
- SAT (Scholastic Assessment test)
‘Scholastic Assessment test\’ is an entrance test for students aspiring to admit to undergraduate courses abroad, especially in the US and Canadian colleges and universities
- ACT (American College Testing)
American College Testing is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States.
Generally, 10th or 12th-class students take these exams to utilize their scores for the study abroad application of their undergraduate program.
- IISER IAT ( Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research Aptitude Test)
IAT is a national-level exam which will be conducted by the Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISER). IISER SCB Aptitude test is an exam for admission into a 5-year dual degree programme of BS-MS in SCB Stream
TOP COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA AND ABROAD TO STUDY GEOLOGY
- California Institute of Technology, US
- The University of California, Berkeley, US
- Stanford University, US
- Aligarh Muslim University, UP, India
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, India
- Presidency University, India
- Kumaun University, India
- Central University of Karnataka, India
FAMOUS PEOPLE CONNECTED WITH GEOLOGY
Florence Bascom
Educator and geological survey scientist who is considered to be the first American woman geologist.
M.S Krishnan
First Indian to serve as the Director of the Geological Survey of India. He was awarded Padma Bhushan for his competency in this field.
TOP INSTITUTIONS THAT EMPLOY PEOPLE IN GEOLOGY
- Geological Survey of India (GSI)
- Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
- Directorate of Geology and Mining (DGM)
- Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- National Geophysical Institute (NGRI)
- Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
- Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC)
- National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC)
- National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
- Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC)
- National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA)
- State Mining Corporation (SMC)
- Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO)
- National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)
- National Aluminium Company (NALCO)
- Hindustan Zinc Limited
- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
- Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC)
- Mineral Exploration Authority Private sector companies
- Himalayan studies
- South Ocean drilling program
- Arctic Mission
- Antarctic Mission