What can you do with a degree from Earth, Energy, and Environment?

Environmental geoscientists study human-induced changes to the Earth, assessing and mitigating the effects of development and waste disposal projects on the environment. Environmental geoscience represents a rapidly expanding field due to increasing concerns surrounding climate change, pollution, and sustainability. Environmental geoscientists are commonly employed by governments and private industry, primarily as consultants.

Engineering geologists combine knowledge of the Earth’s surface and subsurface and work with engineers to help manage risk in the built environment. They conduct geological and geotechnical studies to assess suitability of locations for civil engineering, mining, and oil and gas projects. Typically, engineering geologists work for an engineering company or government agency concerned with the design of waste disposal sites, groundwater resources, and large-scale buildings and structures. 

Energy scientists use their knowledge of processes within the Earth to solve geological problems and locate new resources to help supply the increasing global demand for energy. Energy resources include critical metals, petroleum and natural gas, geothermal, nuclear, and renewables. Energy geoscientists are typically employed in the private sector as part of the exploration industry, or as a consulting geologist.

A geophysicist studies the magnetic, electrical, and seismic properties of the Earth to elucidate unseen features beneath our feet. They use a wide variety of data, ranging from small datasets from individual field sites to large numerical datasets collected from stations around the world. Interpretation of these data often involves heavy computation, requiring the use of multiple programs and a good knowledge of coding. Geophysicists can be employed in public and private sectors, within the fields of archeology, hydrogeology, seismology, and oil and gas.

A hydrogeologist deals with the Earth’s most precious resource: water. Hydrogeologists (or hydrologists) map how water flows above and underground, detect freshwater reservoirs, test for contamination, consult on drilling projects and waste storage, and play crucial roles in the environmental remediation of contaminated sites. Hydrogeologists work for public and private organizations including Environment Canada, consulting firms, municipal planning authorities, water treatment plants, and resource companies.

Palaeontologists study past life on Earth through the examination of fossilised remains preserved in the rock record. Palaeontologists consider the evolution of species and biological characteristics, climatic conditions that impacted the ecosystems, and catastrophic events that changed the course of our history. Paleontologists often work for academic institutions or museums, and occasionally consult as experts for projects in other fields.

A volcanologist studies the processes that lead to volcanic eruptions, both in the present and in the past. Volcanologists use a variety of techniques to try and predict future eruptions and in turn, minimize their impact on humans. Volcanologists typically work for government organizations or academic institutions.

Geochemists study a wide variety of topics that integrate their geological knowledge with the chemistry of rocks, minerals, and life forms. Examples of topics that geochemists study include lake water chemistry, chemical reactions at mid-ocean ridges, the chemistry of magmas, and chemical impact of life on the Earth’s surface and subsurface. Geochemists work in the energy exploration industry, in government, and in universities as research scientists or professors.

Geobiology is an exciting field where water, rocks, soil and minerals meet micro and macroscopic forms of life. Geobiology typically deals with the top five kilometers of the Earth’s crust, as well as freshwater and saline water environments. Cutting-edge new research in geomicrobiology has identified a multitude of life forms that use chemical reactions to harness the energy of the Earth. Geobiologists typically work for the environmental consulting industry, in government, or as research scientists at a university.

There are many career opportunities in public science education, including museum curator, teacher, librarian, parks interpreter, or working at a science centre. A background in geoscience can open many doors for students, sometimes in surprising areas. The skills gained throughout a geoscience degree, such as analytical methods and data interpretation, are relevant to a wide variety of future careers.

Entrepreneurs see a need for a product or service, and initiate a business to fulfill this need. Geoscientists have the ideal skill set to become entrepreneurs in all of the career areas mentioned above. From starting a geoscience outreach organization, to inventing a new method to sample groundwater, to pioneering a new geophysical technique for finding mineral deposits, geoscientists can lead the way in innovation and business.