What are the geosciences?
Geoscience is a broad sector of scientific study that covers, literally, everything on earth -- soil, rocks, water, oceans, even the atmosphere. Anything that shapes our environment is part of the geosciences umbrella.

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
• Growth and decay of glaciers
• Plate tectonics (movements of continents over geologic time)
• Earthquakes and earth movements
• The evolution of Homo sapiens
• Extinctions of dinosaurs and ice-age beasts (think mammoths, Irish Elks and saber-toothed cats)

Possible jobs
In your work as a geoscientist, you could be doing any of the following:

• Exploring and mapping extensive cave and sinkhole networks
• Diving in submersibles to collect deep-sea samples
• Using geo-chemistry to date rocks or extract paleo-climate information
• Educating students
• Managing national park resources
• Serving as a museum technician or exhibit designer
• Working in petroleum and mineral exploration
• Monitoring nationwide networks of stream gauges to track water and flood levels
• Testing for pollutants in groundwater (used for drinking)
• Enforcing cleanup of polluted sites
• Monitoring industries that affect public health and safety, such as waste management
• Creating intricately detailed maps using satellite data
• Tracking global phenomena such as El Niño and adding to the growing body of evidence for global warming
• Advising your congresswoman on a wide range of environmental issues
• Lobbying for environmental justice
• Working as a conservation specialist for the World Wildlife Fund
• Writing mystery novels starring a geoscientist.

As you can see, geoscientists apply their broad knowledge and training to a range of fascinating and important jobs.

Education and Salaries

How to become a geoscientist
Start by developing observational skills in your own backyard. Learn the local geology using your state's Web resources and those of the U.S. Geological Survey. Visit museums. Explore the physical environment at local parks and trails. In addition to being inquisitive and enjoying science, read more on your own and participate in school science fairs.

Education
In college, take as many math (especially statistics), computer and science courses as you can. Read the scientific literature in your field and use it in your projects. Gain lab and field experience, learn to use field instruments, take thorough notes and make a goal of improving your writing skills. (Findings that can't be communicated in writing aren't helpful to anyone.) Learn to create decent graphics and become adept at interpreting your findings. Learn any of the software programs for GIS (Geographic Information System) if possible -- it has become a mainstream marketable skill.

After college graduation
After college, you can either get entry-level work in one of the many industries listed above, or opt for a master's or PhD degree, depending on your ultimate goal. A person seeking to become more competitive in the job market would start with a master's degree. A research-oriented person would opt for a PhD. Graduate school may last from 2-3 years (master's) to 3-6 years (PhD) depending on many factors (the type of project, the availability of funding, the dedication of the student).

The work environment
Geoscientists love fieldwork, but they spend much more time in the lab or office analyzing samples, producing and working on data, and making interpretations that solve problems or resolve important questions. Writing reports or journal articles and presenting results at conferences or client meetings are expected. Researchers must write convincing proposals to funding agencies to finance graduate students and field experiments. Although a lot of hard work is involved, it is far from drudgery to delve more deeply into your chosen field in an effort to make a lasting contribution.

Typical salary
Salaries vary widely. The amount of education and experience you have, your chosen field and your location will affect what you make. The important thing to remember is that working in the geosciences is an enjoyable and exceedingly worthwhile path in life. You will have amazing experiences and will be contributing to the greater good for society whether you conduct scholarly research or do applied work.

Marguerite Toscano is a practicing geoscientist who lives in Maryland with her 7-year-old daughter. She is currently working on sea-level changes, carbonate geology and coral reefs at the Smithsonian Institution. She also edits the newsletter for the Association for Women Geoscientists.