Industry Outlook

The direction for the geosciences has changed considerably in the last decade yet continues to be an active field with a promising future. Where as past areas of focus were predominantly based on resource location and exploitation, a redirection toward environmental preservation and remedy is the growing trend. Current government budget policies indicate a considerable decrease in funding solely for scientific research. A solid foundation in one of the fundamental sciences such as chemistry, physics, math or engineering as an emphasis with geology and the applicability of these specializations to current issues is highly desirable.

All organizations in the science and research and development communities are realizing the importance of justifying research spending by focusing studies on issues that relate or bear significance to issues facing society today. The world wide focus is the growing trend. Specific issues most dominantly include environmental topics. Research in the earth science arena must focus on such things as risk assessment, environmental impact studies and long term effects and remedy of the multitude of environmental problems facing the world today. Overpopulation, resource depletion, ground water pollution and the effects of global warming are just a few examples of the environmental topics that are facing the earth sciences.

Worldwide political changes have led to nothing less than extreme policy changes in foreign governments specifically the conversion to capitalism by many overseas nations. The broadening of markets will have serious economic effects on worldwide economies and trade. These new markets will bring in large amounts of capital to previously depressed areas. As the demand for imports and exports rise, countries will find it critical to develop the means necessary to operate in a capitalistic environment. These include serious improvements to infrastructure and an increase of new construction in the area of roads, rail lines, dams and seaports.

Those nations with the highest degree of technical knowledge and experience with environmental studies will be highly sought after to provide the necessary impact studies and assessments of other nations abroad. New construction and other large scale overseas projects will undoubtedly be accomplished by these more technological nations as well.

Non-Industry Outlook

The non-industry outlook is favorable. Although industry research is somewhat limited to the engineering/environmental aspect, the university based research offers much more latitude in available topics. Ph.D. holding professors are in continual demand for providing quality education at the undergraduate level as well as higher educational instruction in specialty areas. Although funding has dampened research in some areas, universities still provide available means for research. The justification and applicability of subjects tend to be growing trends. However, contribution in the area of research and publications in the science community are emphasized and in many cases universities will concentrate in some specific area of research. Curriculums offered tend to reflect specialty areas of the faculty and the focus of their research. Many universities offer part-time assistant teaching positions for graduate students working on masters degrees.

Summary

Clearly, there is much work to be done world wide in the earth science field. Geologists are needed to address the environmental concerns that are rapidly beginning to affect us on a global scale. Much focus will be on overseas development of rising capitalistic countries as markets begin to open and economies become stimulated. The environmental aspect will be incorporated into all development old and new world wide. Research trends will be highly focused, specialized and more applicable to current societal issues. The continued accumulation of data through research is essential to understanding past processes so that we may develop future policy on how to better survive, co-exist and most importantly, protect and preserve the fragile planet in which we live.

Scott W. Grasse

Undergraduate Geology Major

San Diego State University

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© Copyright 1997 by Scott Grasse.