Are you curious about the Earth? About its history and evolution? Then you might see yourself as a future geologist with a camera in one hand and a valuable mineral in the other. Geologists are people who enjoy blending the outdoor nature with science. They study the evolution of life and how it impacts the environment. They learn to extract natural resources such as gas, minerals, metals, and oil.
A common mistake which most of us make is between geology and geography. Geology 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.
It is very important for us to know what exactly geologists they do?
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.such as, the processes acting upon the Earth cause hazards such as landslides, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Geologists work to understand these processes well enough to avoid building important structures where they will be damaged. If geologists learn a lot about volcanic mudflows of the past then that information can be very useful in predicting the dangerous areas where volcanic mudflows might strike in the future.
Geologists work hard to learn that oil and natural gas form from organic materials deposited along the margins of continents and in shallow seas upon the continents. They learned to recognize the types of rock that are deposited in these near-shore environments. This knowledge enables them to recoginze potential oil and natural gas source rocks.
Geology can be a very interesting and rewarding career. The minimum training required is a college degree in geology. Pre-college students who are interested in becoming a geologist should take college preparatory courses in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics and math. Courses related to writing, environmental science, computers, geography and mapping are also valuable.
To start a career in Geology, one should complete some Geology courses such as M.A. or M. Sc. in Geology. Some of the institutes in India offering Geology courses are Aligarh Muslim University, Andhra University, Annamalai University, Amravati University, Banaras Hindu University, Calcutta university.,etc.
Career in Geology is an exciting and interesting option as there is plethora of job opportunities in Geology all over India. The people studying geology can work as Geologists, Meteorologists, Geographers or Oceanographers. The person having degree in geology can pursue a career in Petrology, Paleontology, Geophysics, Mining, Environmental Education, Research and Field Study. As the geologists held significant role in exploring precious valuable mineral resources, they can get good employment opportunities in public and private sectors. Opportunities in Geology range from studying and predicting man-made and natural disasters to exploring mineral resources. But the best place to get a degree in paleontology is USA and Canada.
Only a very few colleges under the universities of Kerala provide this course although it has got demand in various sectors of human life. New combinations of Geoinformatics, Remote sensing and chemistry are unique. The well-trained faculty, well-equipped laboratories, museum and library with books/articles of national and international circulation makes the subject interesting and worthy. The yearly exposure of students to various reputed institutions, fields and places of academic importance all over India helps to realize the fascinating subject at its full sense.
After the successful completion of B.Sc. course pupils are eligible for admission to courses M. Sc. / M. tech / M. Sc. Tech. In Geology / Applied geology / Remote sensing / Geo-informatics / Environmental science / Petroleum geology / Mining engineering at various universities of Kerala, outside the state and abroad. They are also eligible for admission to B. Ed. at various universities. Geology is one of the optional subjects for civil services and similar examinations.
The institutions which give opportunities exclusive to the graduates and the post graduates in Geological assistants / Assistant geologists / Junior Hydrologists / Petroleum engineers / Mining inspectors / Mining engineers / Petroleum geologists / Mineral inspectors / Scientists / Research assistants etc. are Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Central Water Resource and development (CWRDM), Coal India, Oil India Limited (OIL), Center for Earth Science Studies (CESS), Mineral Exploration Center (MEC), Atomic Minerals Division (AMD), National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Department of Ocean Development (DOD), Geophysical Research Laboratory (GPRL), NNRMS, IREL, various IITs etc.. The state government organizations include department of Mining and Geology, Ground Water Board, plus many other private sectors related to petroleum, ground water, soil survey, Ornamental and decorative stone industries, mines etc.
The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, founded in 1950, is the first of seven technological Institutes for higher learning set up by the Government of India. The Department of Geology and Geophysics offers two-years M.Sc. courses in (i) Geological Sciences and (ii) Geophysics. The aim of these two courses is to groom students to enter upon careers in the field and in the laboratory. Over the years a large number of graduates of this department have come to occupy important positions in professional organizations like the ONGC, GSI, AMD, etc., in several universities and research organizations both in India and abroad. The department counts among its alumni six Bhatnagar laureates, three each in Geology and Geophysics, two Vice-Chancellors, one Director General of GSI, Directors of AMD and ONGC. Students will have the opportunity to participate in activities of the Earth Science Study Circle, which promotes both curricular and extra-curricular activities.
The department is actively engaged in research work in the field of structural geology, Pre-cambrian geology, igneous and metamorphic petrology, economic geology, geochemistry, environmental earth science, sedimentary geology, photo-geology and remote-sensing, stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, micropaleontology, paleomonsoon analysis, isotope geology and geochronology, ground water geology and geophysics, gravity magnetics, magnetotelluries, deep crystal studies, electrical and electromagnetics, seismic reflections and refractions, numerical modeling and inversion of geophysical data, seismic and electrical tomography, seismic and electromagnetic wave propagation, well-logging, earthquake and engineering seismology, radionuclide pollution and modeling, etc.
The department is going to be included in the global seismological network with the setting-up of a broadband seismological observatory. The department runs a collaborative research and training programme with DAAD, Germany. The department has contributed textbooks to the national and international earth science community.
The Department of Geology of the Utkal University occupies a position of honour, distinction and eminence in being the first Post Graduate faculty of the University dating back to the year 1956, when it came into existence in the campus of the Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. The department was recognized to receive research support from UGC at the level of DRS (SAP) from 1994-1999. One UGC sponsored Refresher course in geology has conducted for college and University teachers. In addition the department has conducted four national seminars and published three volumes of papers presented in the seminars The department follows the semester system of teaching. Twenty-five students are selected to take admission into the first semester each year. The process of selection is based on career marking (50%) and entrance test (50%). For admission into M. Phil. course only career marking is taken into consideration.
Number of Scholars awarded Ph.D. degree - 34
Seminars and Conferences organized
(2000-01) - 02
Students Received Scholarship (2000-01) UGC (One), Merit (4)
Geological Survey of India (GSI) -One of the oldest surveys in the World is a premier organisation of Earth Science Studies in the sub-continent with a strength of 2100 geoscientists and technical professionals.GSI has a network of Offices located in all the states of India .Custodian of Geoscientific database developed over a period of 150 years.
A geologist’s salary depends on his or her degree and the years of experience. Also, a geologist is one of many jobs where salary increases with each year because of the limit of the natural resources. Usually, it is better to have a bachelor’s degree of Ph.D. in geology. A geologist earns the similar salary as a geologist with a bachelor’s degree. Some geologists with bachelor’s earn even more than the ones with master’s. It is also an advantage to work for the government. The government gives higher salaries.
A geologist can have a nice lifestyle with many years of experience and working for the right company.