DID YOU KNOW:

Geoscientists have been to the moon to collect rock specimens, experienced the wonders of the ocean floor, gone deep into Africa to search for fossils, climbed the highest glaciers to study the effects of global warming, and trekked through the deserts of Utah to look for dinosaurs. They work as explorers for new mineral or hydrocarbon resources, consultants on engineering or environmental problems, researchers, teachers, writers, editors, museum curators, and many other challenging positions. They often divide their time between work in the field, the laboratory and the office.

Fieldwork usually consists of preparing geologic maps, collecting geologic data and samples, and making measurements of the earth's properties that can be analyzed in the laboratory. Geoscientists also conduct experiments and design computer models to test theories about geologic phenomena.

In the office, they integrate field and laboratory data to write reports that include maps and diagrams that illustrate the results of their studies. Such maps may pinpoint areas favorable to the occurrence of ores, coal, oil, natural gas or ground water or indicate subsurface conditions of construction sites.

Geophysicists decipher the Earth's interior by studying magnetic, electric, thermal and gravitational fields.
Geochemists investigate the nature of chemical processes in rocks and minerals.
Petroleum geologists are involved in exploration and production of oil and natural gas.
Economic geologists explore and develop geologic materials that have profitable uses.
Hydrologists investigate the movement and quality of ground water.
Engineering geologists investigate geologic factors that affect engineering structures such as bridges, buildings, airports and dams.
Environmental geologists work to solve problems with pollution, waste disposal, urban development, and hazards such as flooding and erosion.
Seismologists study the location and force of earthquakes, and trace the behavior of earthquake waves to interpret the structure of the Earth.
Planetary geologists determine the age and help reconstruct the geologic history of the Earth.
Geomorphologists study the effects of Earth processes and investigate the nature, origin and development of present landforms and their relationship to underlying structures.
Marine geologists investigate the oceans and continental shelves.
Mineralogists study the formation, composition and properties of minerals.
Paleontologists study fossils to understand past life forms and their changes through time, and reconstruct past environments.
Petrologists determine the origins of rocks.
Sedimentologists study sedimentary rocks and the processes of sediment formation, transportation and deposition.
Stratigraphers investigate the time and space relationships of layered rocks and their fossil and mineral content.
Structural geologists study deformation, fracturing and folding that has occurred in the Earth's crust.
Volcanologists investigate volcanoes and volcanic phenomena.