by Sweetch

Created on: October 03, 2007   Last Updated: October 04, 2007

Earth Science encompasses the key fields of geology, geography and hydrology, and these disciplines have multiple overlaps into other fields of science, namely meteorology, biology, astronomy, environmental science and other physics/chemistry related fields. Further, based on current types of careers in Earth Sciences, there are many other links to fields such as economics and commerce, as well as technology, computing, agriculture and land management, engineering and even medicine. The common thread between geology, geography and all the rest is the nature and understanding of RESOURCE (namely, biological systems being able to exist and prosper via use of resources. This article broadly defines Earth Science, and those careers which are available across many fields of Earth Science.

The most common career-based Earth Sciences are as such due to the industrial applications they support. The mining/exploration industry (minerals, petroleum) is the main user of geology professionals. GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software and design is responsible for employing personnel across all disciplines, especially those related to mapping and image generation. Hydrologists are scientists dedicated to all facets of water management. Again, there is obvious overlap between these and many other fields of analytical and practical science. The one distinction however, should be made between research-based and industry-based Earth Science. Both areas employ large numbers of people, but both areas display many marked differences in approaches to data collection and analysis. This is simply due to research-based work seeking to increase our scientific knowledge about Earth, its internal/external makeup, and its place in universal space. Industry-based Earth Science is more concerned with practical design and production (of resources, tools, constructions etc.) in order to support and progress humanity. Where both areas are identical is in their necessary embrace of physics and chemistry of the fundamentals elements of gas, fluid, solid and all things in between.

Therefore, to seek a career in the Earth Sciences, one must possess a sound understanding of the raw concepts of physics and chemistry, and of course a sound ability to manipulate and recognize mathematical problems and solutions to problems. Generally, secondary school students with either multistrand science or (at least one of either) physics and chemistry to leaving certificate level are most favoured by tertiary

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