Geology Careers

Geoscientists follow paths of exploration and discovery in quest of solutions to some of society's most challenging problems:
Predicting the behavior of Earth systems and the universe.
Finding adequate supplies of natural resources, such as ground water, petroleum, and metals.
Conserving soils and maintaining agricultural productivity.
Developing natural resources in ways that safeguard the environment.
Maintaining quality of water supplies.
Reducing human suffering and property loss from natural hazards, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, landslides, hurricanes, and tsunamis.
Determining geological controls on natural environments and habitats and predicting the impact of human activities on them.
Defining the balance between society's demand for natural resources and the need to sustain healthy ecosystems.
Understanding global climate patterns.

Geoscientists are stewards or caretakers of Earth's resources and environment. They work to understand natural processes on Earth and other planets. Investigating the Earth, its soils, oceans, and atmosphere; forecasting the weather; developing land-use plans; exploring other planets and the solar system; determining environmental impacts; and finding new sources of useful Earth materials are just a few of the ways geoscientists contribute to our understanding of Earth processes and history. Geoscientists provide essential information for solving problems and establishing governmental policies for resource management; environmental protection; and public health, safety, and welfare. Geoscientists are curious about the Earth and the solar system. Is there life on other planets? How are they changing? What effects will shrinking glaciers have on the oceans and climate? What makes a continent move, a mountain form, a volcano erupt? Why did the dinosaurs become extinct?
Geoscientists are concerned about the Earth. How is the global climate changing? How do Earth systems work? How and where should we dispose of industrial wastes? How can society's growing demands for energy and water be satisfied while conserving natural resources for future generations? As global populations increase, can we grow enough food and fiber to sustain them?
The Earth is an outdoor laboratory filled with opportunities to observe Earth processes in action. By applying their knowledge of forces and factors that shape the Earth, geoscientists seek to reconstruct the past and anticipate the futur