What are the geosciences?
Geoscience is a broad sector of scientific study that covers, literally, everything on earth
The geosciences are intricately built upon other, fundamental sciences such as chemistry, biology and physics. The geosciences are inseparable elements of multidisciplinary fields such as oceanography, ecology and climatology, and are absolutely essential to applied fields such as civil engineering, environmental sciences, transportation, mapping, archeology, coastal zone management, geohazards (volcanoes, earthquakes, flooding, landslides) and the management of our surface and groundwater resources.
Where the jobs are
Geoscientists are employed by agencies of the federal government, state geological surveys, departments of natural resources and departments of environmental protection, museums, colleges and universities, private environmental consulting firms, mining companies, oil companies, the insurance industry, gem and jewelry interests, and even the cosmetics industry. (Do you know what minerals you're wearing?)
Typical Duties
Typical studies
Are you intrigued yet? As a geoscientist you could be studying the following things:
- Evidence of ancient life and water on Mars
- The impact of hurricanes
- Climate change over centuries and millennia
- Oscillations of sea level over hundreds of thousands of years
