Earth Sciences as a Career Avenue

Looking for a Career Option in the Field of Earth Science ? This section features Earth Science as a career option, elaborated with reference to the job profile, personality traits required, the courses and training involved, premier institutions and future prospects.

Overview
Earth Sciences mainly deal with subjects such as geography, geology and oceanography and are connected with the study of earth, it's changing aspects.

Geography deals with the areal differentiation of the earth's surface. It includes study of factors such as climate, elevation, soil, vegetation, population, land use and industries all over world and it's different political entities.

Geology is the science that deals with the physical history of the earth, rocks of which is composed and physical changes which the earth has undergone or is undergoing. Alied branches of geology are geochemistry and geophysics.

Oceanography is branch of physical geography dealing with oceans. Geologists may easily specialise in this branch. Again the work is research-oriented or exploratory in nature.

Cartographers produce maps, including details of projection, design, compilations, drafting and reproduction. They collect and organise all the data on which maps are based and this involves land surveying and aerial photography. Cartography can take up by geographers. Town Planning organisations, forest departments, land survey agencies, defence sector, rail, road and airport authorities, housing boards and tourism departments of the government require the services of cartography


Personality Traits


Geologist or geographer should have keen interest in physical surrondings, strong powers of observation, good colour vision, precision, patience, perseverance, interest in outdoor work, indifference to unpleasant wheather conditions, good physical health, scientific approach, and love for exploration are useful attributes for all earth scientists.


Courses/Training


The basic qualification for career in earth science is a Master's degree in specific subject. Geography and geology are subjects of academic study. In order to take up a post graduate programme in geography or geology, it is necessary to have studied it as major / honours subject during graduation.

Postgraduate seats are normally allotted in these subjects to students who have graduated with the respective subjects. At the postgraduate level students take up an area of the discipline for special study. Project work are an important part of the curriculum for these disciplines. While geology is taken up as a science, many universities do not trate geography as a subject of the science stream and instead award an arts degree.

The Institute of Town Planners, India, 4-A Ring road, I P Estate, New Delhi 110 002 offers Associateship Examination. Postgraduates In geography employed in town planning work, directly or indirectly, may apply for the Examination.

courses in Earth Sciences are

* M.Sc. Tech (Earth science (3 years) in branches : Applied Geology; Applied geophysics after B.Sc. with Geology / Physics).
* 5-year Integrated M.Sc. (Applied Geology / Exploration Geophysics) after 10+2 through IIt-JEE, M.Tech. Applied Geology after B.Tech/equivalent, GATE score.
* Oceanography/Marine Sciences Courses.

Placements And Prospects

Geographers are needed for research, in town planning organisations, in various government departments and also for teaching work. Geologists find employment in teaching, research and exploration/survey work in government, public sector organisations and private sector.

Each organisation recrits against vacancies arising from time to time. Selection is usually on the basis of an assesment of the academic record, interview and a written examination. Research institutions prefer to select candidates with doctoral degrees. Experienced geologists enjoy lucrative prospects in private consultancy work.