GEOLOGY as a CAREER

By Ramesh Laishram *

Its goes same for majority of the student who clears XII exam that they are not aware of the existence of this subject. It is a very fascinating subject which studies the different aspects of the earth.

Geology (from Greek: "earth"; and logos: "speech" lit. to talk about the earth) is the study of the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the structure of those materials, and the processes acting upon them. It includes the study of the organisms which inhabit our planet. A very important part of geology is the study of how Earth's materials, structures, processes and organisms have changed over time.

Geologists work to understand the history of our planet. The better they can understand Earth's history the better they can foresee how events and processes of the past might influence the future. The different branches of Geology are:

• Economic geology: the study of ore genesis, and the mechanisms of ore creation, geostatistics.
• Engineering geology: application of the geologic sciences to engineering practice for the purpose of assuring that the geologic factors affecting the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of engineering works are recognized and adequately provided for;
• Geophysics: the applied branch deals with the application of physical methods such as gravity, seismicity, electricity, magnetic properties to study the earth.
• Geochemistry: the applied branch deals with the study of the chemical makeup and behaviour of rocks, and the study of the behaviour of their minerals.
• Geochronology: the study of isotope geology specifically toward determining the date within the past of rock formation, metamorphism, mineralization and geological events (notably, meteorite impacts).
• Geomorphology: the study of landforms and the processes that create them
• Hydrogeology: the study of the origin, occurrence and movement of groundwater water in a subsurface geological system.
• Igneous petrology: the study of igneous processes such as igneous differentiation, fractional crystallization, intrusive and volcanological phenomena .
• Isotope geology: the study of the isotopic composition of rocks to determine the processes of rock and planetary formation.
• Metamorphic petrology: the study of the effects of metamorphism on minerals and rocks.
• Marine geology: the study of the seafloor; involves geophysical, geochemical, sedimentological and paleontological investigations of the ocean floor and coastal margins. Marine geology has strong ties to physical oceanography and plate tectonics.
• Palaeoclimatology: the application of geological science to determine the climatic conditions present in the Earth's atmosphere within the Earth's history.
• Palaeontology: the classification and taxonomy of fossils within the geological record and the construction of a palaeontological history of the Earth.
• Pedology: the study of soil, soil formation, and regolith formation.
• Petroleum geology: the study of sedimentary basins applied to the search for hydrocarbons (oil exploration).
• Sedimentology: the study of sedimentary rocks, strata, formations, eustasy and the processes of modern day sedimentary and erosive systems.
• Structural geology: the study of folds, faults, foliation and rock microstructure to determine the deformational history of rocks and regions.
• Volcanology: the study of volcanoes, their eruptions, lavas, magma processes and hazards.

A career in this subject starts with the B.Sc. level and is offered in various universities, obviously which is followed by the M.Sc. level, now here starts the huge potential of this subject in seeking jobs, and of which most of the students in Manipur is not aware of.

Geologists work in a variety of settings which include: natural resource companies, environmental consulting companies, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and universities. Many geologists do field work at least part of the time. Others spend their time in laboratories, classrooms or offices. All geologists prepare reports, do calculations and use computers. Although a bachelor's degree is required for entry level employment, many geologists earn masters and/or doctorate degrees. The advanced degrees provide a higher level of training, often in a geology specialty area such as paleontology, mineralogy, hydrology or volcanology. Advanced degrees will often qualify the geologist for supervisory positions, research assignments or teaching positions at the university level.

These are some of the most desirable jobs in the field of geology. So my article is mainly going to concentrate on this aspect.

Let me discuss it in the following aspect:

• Government Sector
• Public Sector
• Private Sector
• Research and Academics.

Government Sector: The Geological Survey of India is the main body which employs Geologists and Hydrologists and call for this post almost every year, for the last three year continuously they are filling up vacancies in terms of 100s. Apart from this National Aluminium Corporation (NALCO), Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), Ground Water Board, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Etc. recruit geologists at regular interval.

The Pay is that of a Grade-A Gazetted Officer.

Public Sector: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Gas Authority India Limited (GAIL), Oil India Limited (OIL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Theri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC), Sutlej Jal Vidyut Board (SJVB), Etc., are the some of the bodies which employ Geologists.

The Pay is that of a Grade-A Officer along with some added allowances.

Private Sector: Many Multi National Companies are making their presence felt in the Indian Scenario mainly in the Oil sector, so they are recruiting a whole lots of freshers from universities throughout India. The main Players being Schlumberger, Shell, Crain, Reliance and many other small scale companies. the minimum pay scale starts from somewhere like 4 lakhs per annum to approximately 36 lakhs per annum.

Apart from the Oil sector, private companies are absorbing young geoscientists in fields like Remote Sensing, Construction companies. There is great likely hood that you are going to go abroad at some point of your career in such a company.

Research and Academics: For those students who are really interested in the field of research, there is also a huge scope of doing research in many research institutes along with the universities. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WHIG), National Geophysical Reseach Institute (NGRI), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), apart form this the IITs, ISM, IISc., JNU and other universities also offer Ph.D Programs.

In this field you can either become a Geoscientists, Teacher.

Geology as a subject excel than other subject as they also have option for UPSC Civils exam, Forestry Service and all the other jobs that a graduate or master degree holding student can apply.

We also have some fields and application in terms of geology merging with other subjects like geology and microbiology, geology and environment, geochemistry, hydrogeology, marine geology, etc., besides engineering, disaster management, future prospect such as gas hydrate mining, sea bed mining and further exploration to other cosmic bodies such as mars etc.

Let me assure you that the discussion I have place before you is only the tip of the ice burg and there are many options I could not cover.

Epilogue:
I believe I am a little late in discussing this matter now. But I guess it is better now then never. Actually it was only yesterday (Sep 1 2008) that this idea took shape after a discussion with my friend James Pebam. It is in fact his idea that we should write an article regarding the job potential of GEOLOGY and spread awareness of this less know subject, through your well read Website. Hope this bit of information is going to be helpful the young students of Manipur in opting for a very job oriented career.
- Ramesh

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* Ramesh Laishram is a research scholar at IIT Roorkee (Dept of Earth Sciences) and is an avid photographer too. He can be reached at rames(dot)laishram(at)gmail(dot)com.
This was webcasted on 3rd September 2008.

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