Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: paul.fr on 20/08/2007 09:58:13

Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: paul.fr on 20/08/2007 09:58:13
Poor little Geology / Palaeontology section. Why are you so neglected?

Maybe a friendly geologist will come a passing and tell us about how exciting it is to work in this field. We have many youngsters on the forum, who may not know what they want to be when they grow up.

Can you sell them Geology as a career/
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: pete_inthehills on 20/08/2007 18:55:40
oh man! why wouldn't you want to be a geologist?  Just look around you, other than wood/paper products virtually everything else is thanks to a geologists.  The bricks and plasterboard of your walls, slates on your roof, plastics of your computer, glass, metal, everything.  So just as there are lots of materials found by geologists then there are lots of types of geologists.  Not just those working in mining, oil industrys but mapping of new areas.  You wander around the hills looking at rocks and making notes.
And if you don't want to work for a living you can become a geological researcher.  Spend your life digging up dinosaurs or some other fossils.
Or you could start your own business selling minerals and fossils on line and source them yourself by going around the world looking for interesting things.

ahhh geology is sooo cool.

Pete
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: neilep on 20/08/2007 19:50:10
I luff geology cos it deals with well old stuff !!...in the extreme.......Now...if you partook to taste some of wifeys cooking you would think that I would naturally luff it !........because...wifeys cooking is what I can imagine petrified wood might taste like !!...and that's just her toast !!
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: Bass on 20/08/2007 20:01:40
I have to believe that the first scientists were geologists.  These guys observed earth processes all around them and came up with the first hypotheses on why they happened.  Their ideas were probably more wrong than right, but at least was a start into scientific inquiry.

Do you like complex puzzles?  Then geology is the science!  You are given a series of clues on the surface of the earth (or even fewer clues from drill holes, caves, etc.) to solve the mystery of earth processes and how our landscape came to its present condition.  Mountain building, erosion, earthquakes, volcanoes, oceans, rivers, glaciers, hot springs, landslides, and some of the most breathtaking scenery on earth- what's not to like?

Geology determines where and how we live, it influences climate and controls life.  Dinosaurs, sea monsters, weird plants and animals, what happened to all those species that came before us?  What is likely to happen to the earth in the future?  When, how and why?  Where will our future resources come from?

Just think of your fascination with rocks and minerals- everybody loves 'em, especially the somewhat odd ones.  

Lucky for you I have to run, else this could run on to several pages.
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: JimBob on 20/08/2007 20:48:02
For me the attraction was two fold. First, to be a geologist I had to be a proficient biologist, chemist, and physicist, as well as a person who could handle advanced differential equations - i.e., you needed to be a Victorian gentleman - well rounded and flexible. I am still a generalist although I am highly partial to structural geology. I must know sedimentary geology as well being in the oil business but any dolt can pick that up fairly easily. It is needed in most all other types of geology as well.

The second one is that there is a lot of art in geology that isn't present in some of the hard sciences. It is present in quantum physics and some other hard sciences but geology offers more opportunity for it than any science I know of.

Also, It is just fun as hell to go to the Big Bend National Park and drink beer for a week - I am sure they don't do that now, thou. It would be frowned upon.

 
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: pete_inthehills on 20/08/2007 22:43:22
but be warned, geology can spoil the simple enjoyment of a landscape.

When my friend say "look at those mountains", I think wow mountain building orogenys or plate collisions...and when they say "look at this pretty stone" I think about how it was formed. ;)

pete
inthehills
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: paul.fr on 22/08/2007 21:30:29
So in a nut shell. geologists don't have to have a beard, get to travel all over the world, sample the locals, oops sample the locals beer [:I] and you actually get paid for this.
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: Bass on 22/08/2007 23:54:31
Plus we get to check out all the cool rocks
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: JimBob on 23/08/2007 00:37:33
but be warned, geology can spoil the simple enjoyment of a landscape.

When my friend say "look at those mountains", I think wow mountain building orogenys or plate collisions...and when they say "look at this pretty stone" I think about how it was formed. ;)

pete
inthehills

Bass, he's got it pretty bad. Think it will wear off some when he goes to work eventually?

Hasn't for me that much.
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: Karen W. on 23/08/2007 00:50:55
Those are good things to think about!
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: Bass on 23/08/2007 03:22:42
but be warned, geology can spoil the simple enjoyment of a landscape.

When my friend say "look at those mountains", I think wow mountain building orogenys or plate collisions...and when they say "look at this pretty stone" I think about how it was formed. ;)

pete
inthehills

Bass, he's got it pretty bad. Think it will wear off some when he goes to work eventually?

Hasn't for me that much.

Absolutely! - Pete must be a grad student.  Over time, I've discovered that there are far more intriguing moments in life than just rocks (most involve at least a pint of draft).
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: JimBob on 23/08/2007 03:38:22
Or a female!
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: pete_inthehills on 23/08/2007 10:03:54
ah KarenW, Bass and Jimbob you are sweeties, cutsie wootsie sweetie piesy whysies. 

You make me out to be 22.

I'm a little older than that.  But I can remember being 22.  Vaguely.  Well, I can remember what my friends tell me what I was like at 22.  After all, I'm a geologist and I like beer and beer tends to make me forget stuff.

I've got 10 years in the oil industry and 5 years before that doing post grad stuff.  There was also a couple of years of drinking, thinking about getting my hair cut and getting a job.

But obviously I don't look my age, or act it!

pete
inthehills
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: eric l on 23/08/2007 13:21:47

But obviously I don't look my age, or act it!


Don't know about the looks, but when it comes to not acting your age, you're not alone on this forum.
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: paul.fr on 25/01/2008 15:24:41
Come on Exodus, what would your answer to the question be?
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: Exodus on 26/01/2008 09:20:44
I studied geology for my degree and masters... it was hard work but amazing, i'm so grateful i chose it over geogrpahy... learning the history of the earth, visiting locations and being a detective to work out whet it was like 600 million years ago, finding amazing fossils, i actually miss being at Uni and learning it.

There are loads of careers you can go into with geology also, it makes you very employable. The Oil industry is looking for more employees as the searches for new oil becomes more detailed, mining operations such as Rio Tinto are massive employers... then a new industry which is emerging is that of land remediation (environmental geology). This is what i did a large portion of my Masters on and it is very interesting to learn the danger of different pollutants in soil, how they behave in different lithologies etc! awesome!

The fact is, once you're bitten with the geology bug, you can't go back... Any rocks become interesting and a part of your brain starts to wonder how they came about, even to the extent that you'll be looking at rock formations in films rather than the actors! And finally, to show how amazing geology is... A number of years back, Osama Bin Laden gave a video speech from Afghanistan and a geologist recognised the rock type behind him and was able to inform allied forces the area they thought he was in. BRILLIANT.
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: JnA on 26/01/2008 10:48:45
'cause Geology rocks!
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: caver_sarah on 26/09/2008 21:55:01
Being a geologist, you have the ability to see the BIG picture. You can start imagining time in eons instead of decades. You can play in dirt, crawl in mud, hike through the woods, stand on the side of highways to study outcrops - and at the end of the day have a cold beer or bourbon. On field trips, though - you have to get used to the guys farting in the van.
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: paul.fr on 26/09/2008 22:13:53
A lady Geologist! Oh, Sarah, they will all be coming out of the woodwork to boast now that you have posted. I hope you like older men?
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: Bass on 27/09/2008 00:05:02
Welcome to the forum caver_sarah! Nice to have another rocker around.
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: Don_1 on 29/09/2008 16:45:00
I used to be a geologist in my younger days, well that's not strictly speaking true, the truth is I always seemed to be stoned!!! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freesmileys.org%2Fsmileys%2Featdrink005.gif&hash=6ec5a90f8776c91caeb252db2e1e0bc4) (http://www.freesmileys.org) (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freesmileys.org%2Fsmileys%2Featdrink009.gif&hash=d2d31ed0cc27c3bac70d642319169231) (http://www.freesmileys.org) (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freesmileys.org%2Fsmileys%2Featdrink007.gif&hash=e9d844f896bc2849092364bf2066b93b) (http://www.freesmileys.org) (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freesmileys.org%2Fsmileys%2Featdrink048.gif&hash=4611a627d541fcd8309b73e1c1d2707f) (http://www.freesmileys.org)
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: Evie on 29/09/2008 17:13:50
JnA...You took the words right out of my mouth!

We actually had t-shirts made up for the geoscience department that said that when I was in school.  [:D]

And Sarah...We had to endure a lot of interesting smells from some of the guys, but some of the female geo-nerds had a definite thing with mooning. If we had two vans going out into the field, it always turned into a mooning war (though I did not participate). [:I] [:I]
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: JimBob on 30/09/2008 02:33:18
Being a geologist, you have the ability to see the BIG picture. You can start imagining time in eons instead of decades. You can play in dirt, crawl in mud, hike through the woods, stand on the side of highways to study outcrops - and at the end of the day have a cold beer or bourbon. On field trips, though - you have to get used to the guys farting in the van.

But that is our job!

(oh, hi. Glad you have decided to join us. I hope you are a sedemintologist. One mining geologist is more than most of us can handle.)

Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: Bass on 30/09/2008 02:42:09
I hope you are a sedemintologist. One mining geologist is more than most of us can handle.)



Awwww, JimBob is just jealous cause his ain't as hard as mine [:D]

Get your mind out of the gutter- of course I'm talking about rocks
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: JimBob on 30/09/2008 22:36:45
... it always turned into a mooning war (though I did not participate). [:I] [:I]

RIIIGHT -- And I am the Pope.  [:o)]
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: frethack on 01/10/2008 00:01:45
I wonder what it is about geology that attracts all of the beer swilling, flatulent, lecherous, miscreants.
(...and those are just the girls...)
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: Evie on 01/10/2008 18:02:17
... it always turned into a mooning war (though I did not participate). [:I] [:I]

RIIIGHT -- And I am the Pope.  [:o)]


Hey, you can't just let anyone see something this perfect. It would be downright unfair.  [:X] [:X]
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: JimBob on 01/10/2008 23:36:49
... it always turned into a mooning war (though I did not participate). [:I] [:I]

RIIIGHT -- And I am the Pope.  [:o)]


Hey, you can't just let anyone see something this perfect. It would be downright unfair.  [:X] [:X]


Remarks about small, stale bakery goods that are similar to the rocks we study (firm - for those that are not too bright, Adam) do come to mind BUT, being the gentleman I am I will forgo these rather crude comments and be the wonderful human being I really am.

 [;)]
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: frethack on 02/10/2008 04:07:44
Quote
(firm for those that are not too bright, Adam)

I must confess to all of you, since knowing Jim, my vision has rapidly deteriorated from gazing upon his brilliance without first shielding my eyes.  Maybe one day Ill amass enough knowledge to ignite my own academic fusion and shine just as bright. (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg2.mysmiley.net%2Fimgs%2Fsmile%2Fhappy%2Fhappy0075.gif&hash=27bb7832707087ebb1745df2d012e4cd) (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-war-smileys.php)  One can only hope...*sigh*


He really is rather smart...a Geologic Jedi (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg2.mysmiley.net%2Fimgs%2Fsmile%2Ffighting%2Ffighting0040.gif&hash=db1659a77788574ee58eaea7354ccb9e) (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-unhappy-smileys.php) (this smiley makes me laugh)

Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: JimBob on 02/10/2008 14:06:37
Quote
(firm for those that are not too bright, Adam)

I must confess to all of you, since knowing Jim, my vision has rapidly deteriorated from gazing upon his brilliance without first shielding my eyes.  Maybe one day Ill amass enough knowledge to ignite my own academic fusion and shine just as bright. (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg2.mysmiley.net%2Fimgs%2Fsmile%2Fhappy%2Fhappy0075.gif&hash=27bb7832707087ebb1745df2d012e4cd) (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-war-smileys.php)  One can only hope...*sigh*


He really is rather smart...a Geologic Jedi (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg2.mysmiley.net%2Fimgs%2Fsmile%2Ffighting%2Ffighting0040.gif&hash=db1659a77788574ee58eaea7354ccb9e) (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-unhappy-smileys.php) (this smiley makes me laugh)



Cripes, what a suck-up! His nose is turning that sickly brown color.
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: frethack on 02/10/2008 14:18:36
The "suck-up-ness" will surely fade, so enjoy it while it lasts.  (Lunch with Dr. Fisher, Jim?...hehehe)
Title: Why sould i want to be a Geologist?
Post by: JimBob on 02/10/2008 22:56:31
The "suck-up-ness" will surely fade, so enjoy it while it lasts.  (Lunch with Dr. Fisher, Jim?...hehehe)

Yes. so behave if you wish to pass his course.

But that is enough here. Come to work and get drubbed in person.

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