9781422269992

Cool Careers in Science

3–D PRINTING SPECIALISTS ALTERNATIVE REALITY DEVELOPERS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SCIENTISTS BIG DATA SPECIALISTS COMPUTER GAME & APP DEVELOPERS DRIVERLESS VEHICLE DEVELOPERS DRONE PILOTS

ENTERTAINMENT ENGINEERS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS FOOD SCIENTISTS

FORENSIC SCIENTISTS GENETICS ENGINEERS GEOSCIENTISTS METEOROLOGISTS PROFESSIONAL HACKERS RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKERS ROBOTICS DEVELOPERS SPACE SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS VISUAL EFFECTS ARTISTS

Cool Careers in Science

ANDREW MORKES

MASON CREST MIAMI

PO Box 221876, Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) • www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2024 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-4818-8 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-4820-1 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-6999-2 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Project Manager: Andrew Morkes Cover and Interior Design: Tara Raymo • CreativelyTara Layout: Priceless Digital Media, LLC Publisher’s Note: Websites listed in this book were active at the time of publication. The publisher is not responsible for websites that have changed their address or discontinued operation since the date of publication. The publisher reviews and updates the websites each time the book is reprinted.

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER 5: The Future of Geoscience and Careers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Further Reading & Internet Resources . . 93 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Educational Video Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Author Biography 96

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CHAPTER 1: What Do Geoscientists Do? . . . 11 CHAPTER 2: Terms of the Trade . . . . . . . 32 CHAPTER 3: Preparing for the Field and Making a Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 CHAPTER 4: Key Skills and Methods of Exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

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Introduction

CAREERS IN SCIENCE OFFER GOOD PAY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE, AND OTHER REWARDS

Where would we be without science? Well, we’d be without computers, smartphones, robots, spacecraft, and other cutting-edge technologies. Crimes would take longer to solve without modern forensic analysis techniques. We’d be stuck relying on environmentally unfriendly fossil fuels instead of using renewable energy. We would be unable to detect dangerous weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes. And life would be less fun because we wouldn’t have drones, awe-inspiring and physics-defying roller coasters, and the computer and video games that we play for hours. Job markets are sometimes strong and sometimes weak, but a career in science (which, for the purposes of this series, includes the related fields of technology and engineering) is almost a sure path to a comfortable life. The following paragraphs provide more information on why a career in science is a great choice. Good pay. People in science careers earn some of the highest salaries in the work world. The median annual salary for those in engineering careers in the United States is $79,840, according to the US Department of Labor (DOL). This is much higher than the median earnings ($45,760) for all careers. Additionally, those in life, physical, and social science occupations earn an average of $72,740. Science professionals who become managers

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or who launch their own businesses can earn anywhere from $150,000 to $300,000 or more. Strong employment prospects. The DOL predicts that employment of computer and information technology professionals in the United States will grow by 15 percent during the next decade. This is much faster than the average for all careers. Career opportunities for those in life, physical, and social science occupations will grow by 7 percent, and employment for engineering professionals will grow by 4 percent. By 2031, the DOL predicts that there will be nearly 873,000 new science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs. Rewarding work environment and many career options. A career in science is fulfilling, because you get to use both your creative and practical sides to develop new technologies (or improve existing ones), solve problems, and make the world a better place. While some scientists spend lots of time in laboratories and other research facilities, they also spend time in the field conducting research; collecting samples and observing geological and atmospheric conditions and phenomena; and testing, troubleshooting, and trying out their inventions or discoveries. And some scientists who are also astronauts get to travel into space to conduct experiments and other research! Entrepreneurship is another option for scientists and engineers. Science professionals can launch their own businesses, which can be both fun and very rewarding. Job opportunities are available throughout the United States and the world. Science professionals play such an important role in our modern world that there are job openings almost anywhere, although many positions are found in big cities.

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COOL CAREERS IN SCIENCE: GEOSCIENTISTS

IS A CAREER IN SCIENCE RIGHT FOR ME?

Test your interest. How many of these statements do you agree with? • My favorite class in school is science. • I also enjoy computer science classes. • I like to learn about scientific breakthroughs. • I like to design and build things. • I like to solve puzzles. • I enjoy doing science experiments. • I am curious about how things work. • I am creative and have a good imagination. • I like to build electronics and other things that require electricity. • I like to take things apart and see how they work. • I am good at math and physics. If many of the statements above describe you, then you should consider a career in the sciences. But you don’t need to select a career right now. Check out this book on a career as a geoscientist, and other books in the series, to learn more about occupational paths in the sciences and related fields. Good luck with your career exploration!

INTRODUCTION

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WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

environmental policy: a plan made by government agencies, businesses, or other public or private organizations that pertains to human effects on the environment; specifically, one that is developed to reduce or prevent harm to the environment infrastructure: in relation to the construction industry, the systems of a city, region, or nation, such as communication, sewage, water, transportation, bridges, dams, and electric interdisciplinary: drawing from two or more different fields of knowledge space mining: the process of searching for, collecting, and utilizing natural resources that are found on the moon, other planets, and near-Earth objects; resources include minerals, gases (mainly helium-3), metals (eg, iron, nickel, cobalt), and water

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Chapter 1

WHAT DO GEOSCIENTISTS DO? WHAT IS GEOSCIENCE?

Geoscience is an interdisciplinary field in which scientists, engineers, technicians, technologists, and other science professionals study the earth, its geological structure, its meteorological conditions and atmosphere, and its other natural systems. People who work in the geosciences have educational backgrounds and training in geophysics, Earth science, geoscience, geochemistry, oceanography, soil science and agronomy, climatology, atmospheric science, geology, geography, environmental science, petroleum geology, glaciology, geophysics, limnology, space sciences, hydrology, paleontology, engineering (especially environmental, geological, hazardous waste management, mining, petroleum, and wastewater), and the social sciences (human geography, environmental planning, environmental economics, and other fields). Geoscientists study the past, measure present conditions, and create models and predictions of future geoscientific activity. They study and address critical issues such as global warming and climate change, energy

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Geoscientists study the effects of earthquakes and other geohazards to try to lessen the damage of future events. In this photo, a member of a disaster response team marks a building after conducting a search for victims in a collapsed structure in the aftermath of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck central Nepal.

exploration and development, pollution, and severe weather and its consequences. They help protect the public from natural hazards, such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, and volcanoes, and devise and implement wise strategies to use and manage our natural resources. A career in geoscience is intellectually engaging, rewarding, and even fun if you’re the kind of person who likes to study the earth. In fact, 74 percent of geologists (a popular geoscience career) who were survey by PayScale.com reported being highly satisfied with their careers. There are opportunities for people with all backgrounds. Work environments include field settings, laboratories, and offices. Approximately 286,000 geoscience professionals are employed in the United States, according to the US Census Bureau.

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COOL CAREERS IN SCIENCE: GEOSCIENTISTS

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN GEOSCIENCE

The following paragraphs spotlight some of the most popular occupations in geoscience.

SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS Atmospheric scientists study the layers of gases that surround the earth; the circulation of the atmosphere relating to weather systems and their impact on the earth; air quality; and other atmospheric processes to determine how they affect humans, plants and animals, and the overall environment. There are several specializations in atmospheric science. • Atmospheric chemists study atmospheric processes such as air pollution, ozone depletion, and aerosol formation. They have interdisciplinary backgrounds that include expertise in climate dynamics, atmospheric physics, chemical engineering, physical chemistry, and ecology. • Climate scientists study the climate and how it changes over a long period of time. They work on the theoretical foundations and the modeling of climate change in order to better understand its effects on humans and the environment, help environmental policy makers identify and select strategies to reduce negative climate change, and meet other goals. • Climatologists study historical weather data and use computer modeling software and other tools to interpret long-term weather patterns, or shifts in climate, to better understand ongoing global climate change. • Meteorologists use special instruments and complex computer models to study the lower parts of the atmosphere (primarily

What Do Geoscientists Do?

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the troposphere) and its effects on our weather. They work in broadcast meteorology, for NASA and private space companies to forecast weather conditions in advance of spacecraft launches and landings, and for government and private research organizations. Chemists study substances at the atomic and molecular levels to determine their makeup and to see how they interact with living and nonliving things. Environmental chemists are specialized chemists who study—via office-based research, laboratory investigations, and/or fieldwork—the long-term effects that various chemicals have on the air, soil, and water, and their cumulative effects on plants, animals, and ecosystems, as well as humans. They are also

Some meteorologists work for television stations, radio stations, and websites to provide weather forecasts to the public

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COOL CAREERS IN SCIENCE: GEOSCIENTISTS

known as geochemists . Biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms and within entire ecosystems. Climate change analysts study scientific data and conduct research about the effects of climate change on the environment. They make climate related recommendations for potential legislation and government policies, fundraising, or awareness campaigns; write grant proposals (to ask for money to fund projects); and engage in environmental outreach activities (to inform and inspire the public and decision-makers to fight climate change). Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, chemistry, soil science, and biology to develop solutions to environmental problems and issues, such as climate change, drought, pollution, flood protection, harmful automobile emissions, ozone depletion, deforestation, and waste management. Others develop renewable energy resources. Environmental toxicologists investigate the effects of toxic materials and chemicals on humans, plants, animals, air, water, soil, and the overall environment. Some help government agencies and manufacturers determine where chemicals will end up in the environment and in our bodies. Others conduct specialized research, such as investigating the links between air pollution and dementia. Geographers use their backgrounds in the physical sciences, programming, and geography and expertise in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global positioning systems (GPS) to study the earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants. Physical geographers study features of the natural environment, such as soils, natural hazards, water, plants, landforms, and climate, while human geographers take into account economic, environmental, medical, cultural, social, or political topics in their analysis of the earth and its physical features.

What Do Geoscientists Do?

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Follow a day in the life of a geologist.

Geohazard specialists study earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and other natural disasters to try to help individuals, businesses, and government agencies prepare for them and reduce damage. Geological engineers search for sites that contain metals or minerals (such as coal) that can be used to build products or to power vehicles, homes, and factories. Once they identify a site, they develop a plan to extract resources in an efficient and environmentally sound way. Mining engineers design and develop mines, as well as the technology and equipment that are used in mining. They often specialize in one particular metal or mineral, such as gold or coal. Geologists study the earth’s physical structure and the processes that create that structure. They collect information about air, water, rocks, and glaciers. They do so by conducting field research, using remote sensing technology to collect data, and X-rays and electron microscopes in laboratories to

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COOL CAREERS IN SCIENCE: GEOSCIENTISTS