Post on 02-Jan-2016
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The really useful geologistThe really useful geologist
By the end of this talk I hope you will:
•appreciate why geologists are useful;•recognise why geology is an excellent career choice;•understand more about geologists’ value to society; •realise how you may become an essential player in the Planet’s fight for survival;•acknowledge that Earth science needs to be communicated in ways that will interest and involve pupils, teachers - and the public at large.
Why Geology?
• Interest in mind boggling concepts of time and space:
- events that took seconds & happened this morning
- events that took millions of years & happened hundreds of millions of years ago?
Why Geology?
Interest in the Earth’senvironments today
Interest in the Earth’s past environments
Interest in volcanic hazards Why Geology?
Why Geology?
Interest in making a small fortune!
Interest in working in new/exciting places
How can geologists be really useful?
What makes a geologist so useful?
• Team working• Adaptability• Problem solving• Planning• Initiative• Communication• Analytical
• Flexibility
• Spatial visualisation
• Inter-disciplinary thinking
• Understanding of Earth systems
• Creativity
• Imagination
Will there be opportunities for geologists in the future?
Geology is the bedrock of every economyEverything material that we possess is either dug from the Earth or grown in its soilGeologists can do good & save lives!The Earth is under pressure - so there are plenty of challenges for geologists & Earth scientists
Meeting the challenges!
Understanding natural hazardsFloodsEarthquakesVolcanoesLandslidesWild firesSolar storms
FloodsEarthquakesVolcanoesLandslidesWild firesSolar storms
Understanding natural hazards
Understanding natural hazardsFloodsEarthquakesVolcanoesLandslidesWild firesSolar storms
Understanding natural hazards
FloodsEarthquakesVolcanoesLandslidesWild firesSolar storms
Understanding natural hazardsFloodsEarthquakesVolcanoesLandslidesWild firesSolar storms
Understanding changing climate
Geoengineering e.g. carbon sequestration
Assessing future energy & water resources
Studying deep time topicsEarth systems are complex - to understand the physical, biological and chemical processes involved scientists have to study records of these processes over geologic time.
Palaeobiology
Palaeoclimates
Crustal evolution and dynamics
Resources
Topics for study include:
How are deep time topics important?
•Give time scales for past climate shifts
•Show biosphere’s reaction to environmental change
•Allow prediction of future environmental changes
•Provide records of past crustal deformation
•Help with management of energy resources (oil, gas, coal, uranium & geothermal) and water resources.
“Growing” the geoscientists of the future
Who said?
“During my second year at Edinburgh [1826-27] I attended Jameson's lectures on Geology and Zoology, but they were incredible dull.
The sole effect they produced on me was the determination never as long as I lived to read a book on Geology.”
— Charles Darwin
“I have tried lately to read Shakespeare, and found it so intolerably dull that it nauseated me.”
— Charles Darwin
Teaching methods
• Capturing the excitement of discovery• Engaging your ‘audience’ in genuine inquiry• Thinking about how Earth processes work• Seeing the Earth around us in a new light• Using simple models to provide opportunities to
experience the process of doing science
Teaching ideas
A geologic time scale from a toilet rollFrom an orange to the whole EarthThe Himalayas in 30 secondsQuake – will my home collapse?Rock, rattle & rollHigh flow, low flow: atmosphere & ocean in a tankStress, strain – and sweetsSwiss roll foldsBanana benders Laying down the principles
Sharing ideas
GRAVELCRUNCHINMARSBARMUNCHINHAMMERTAPPINFEATUREMAPPIN
ROCKBASHINMINERALTESTINFOSSILKILLINNEVERLATEIN
FIELDWORKINALWAYSRAININMUDWALLOWINWELLYWEARIN...
USEFUL GEOLOGISTS!
References
http://www.esta-uk.net/Earth Science Teachers’ Association – information on a career in teaching
http://www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/index.cfm?pid=61&catalogueContentID=594http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/education/careersCareers advice
http://geology.com/articles/geologist-salary.shtmlWhy it’s still good time to be a geologist!
http://www.nsf.gov/geo/acgeo/geovision/nsf_ac-geo_vision_10_2009.pdfGeology in the 21st Century – the Geo Vision report
An autobiography of Charles Darwin and selected letters. Francis Darwin (Ed.) New York, Dover, 1958.
http://www.earthlearningidea.com/Innovative, Earth-related teaching ideas
The really useful geologistThe really useful geologist