Geology News - Earth Science Current Events

Gregory Webb has written an interesting article titled "Growth in Mining Hampered by a Lack of Geoscientists" that is available at OnlineOpinion.com.au. In this article he discusses the current shortage of geologists in Australia and how this shortage of educated workers is impacting the mineral industries and the environmental and construction industries. There is also a shortage of academic geologists and many university geology programs are being closed because of low or falling enrollments.

In the past year there have been many articles on the web and in print that detail the shortage of geology graduates and the retirement of a very large number of senior geologists who were hired during the "Energy Crisis" of the 1970s. Some schools report students getting very high salaries for summer employment and getting multiple job offers upon graduation. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists reports these same facts and documents sharply increased salaries for geologists in the petroleum industry.

If industries want to sustain a steady flow of geologists, this may be the time to support university geology departments with endowed professorships and attract geology students with generous scholarship programs.

Read more at OnlineOpinion.com.au.

Labels: Employment

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GeoCorps America has announced that 40 jobs will be available this summer for work with the National Park Service, US Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management. These are paid geoscience positions at many interesting locations. GeoCorps Positions pay a $2,500 stipend for 10-12 weeks of duty and free housing is provided. The positions are open to students, teachers, professionals and retirees.

Field Paleontologist / Education	BLM Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon NCA
Soil Scientist	BLM Butte Falls Resource Area
Geologist	BLM California Coastal National Monument
Paleo Technician (2 Positions)	BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Geologist / Education	BLM Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
Education Development Coordinator	BLM Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument
GIS Tech / Specialist	BLM New Mexico State Office
Natural Resource Specialist / GIS	BLM National Landscape Conservation System
Resource Protection Specialist (2 Positions)	BLM Nevada, Winnemucca District
Hydrogeologist	Huron-Manistee National Forest
Field Geologist	Klamath National Forest
Lead Paleontologist / Stratigrapher (2 Positions)	Kaibab National Forest
Field Geologist	Lewis and Clark National Forest
Environmental Geologist / GIS	Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
Geologist	Sierra National Forest
Soil Scientist	Sierra National Forest
Geologist / Physical Scientist (2 Positions)	White River National Forest
Park Guide - Geology	White Sands National Monument
Karst Management Technician	Antietam National Battlefield
Geology Education / Research	Craters of the Moon National Monument
Park Guide / Natural Resource Assistant	Capulin Volcano National Monument
Field Geologist / Paleo Technician (2 Positions)	Denali National Park
Park Guide - Geology	Bryce Canyon National Park
Paleo Technician	Bryce Canyon National Park
Paleo Assistant / Park Guide	Fossil Butte National Monument
Park Guide - Geology	Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim)
Geomorphologist	Gateway National Recreation Area
Park Guide - Geology (2 Positions)	Oregon Cave National Monument
Field Paleontologist	Petrified Forest National Park
Education / Geologist	Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument
Geology Education Specialist	Rocky Mountain National Park
Geoscience Research Assistant	Rocky Mountain National Park
Park Guide – Geology (2 Positions)	Mount Rainier National Park

Learn more about GeoCorps America Jobs.

Labels: Employment

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The American Association of Petroleum Geologists annual salary survey shows a sharp increase in geology salaries across the board - approximately 16% overall. Charted below are the salaries of entry level petroleum geologists plotted from 2000 to 2006. The sharp increase between 2005 and 2006 is likely a result of multiple factors which include:

• High oil prices
• Lots of geologists are nearing retirement age
• The number of geology degrees earned is down

All of these work together to bump up salaries.


Graph based upon AAPG data.
The salaries above are for entry level geologists in the petroleum industry, many of whom have advanced degrees. Visit the AAPG website too see salaries broken down by degree, years of experience, industry high/low and data over time.

AAPG Geologist Salary Survey

Labels: Employment

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An Associated Press article states that the demand for geologists is double the supply. This shortfall in supply is caused by three factors:

1. High oil prices
2. Lots of oil company geologists are nearing retirement age
3. Small numbers of geology graduates

Read the entire story about Demand for US Geologists at the Dallas Morning News website. (Viewing the article is free but registration is required.)

Labels: Employment

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There is a shortage of experienced coal miners in West Virginia and other states in the Appalachia region even though salaries are easily at $50,000+ per year. An estimated need for over 6,000 experienced miners is causing production shortfalls. The reasons for this shortfall go back to the 1980's when a slump in the demand for coal caused many layoffs. For years after it was easy for the mines to hire experienced workers - they simply hired back miners who were laid off in the 1980's. Now the average coal miner is over 45 years old and young miners who know the job are getting very hard to find.

Miner testing for methane - MSHA.gov Image

Read more about the Coal Miner Shortage at the Chron.com website.

Labels: Employment

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Now posted at Yahoo Finance.... The Fast Company "25 Top Jobs for 2005" list and Geoscientist is listed at #22. Their list of top jobs is based upon four criteria: job growth, salary potential, education level, and room for innovation.
Read more at Top Jobs at Yahoo Finance.

Labels: Employment

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Each summer the National Park Service hires a number of experienced earth science professionals and students to work in the National Parks. They assist the park staff in basic research, mapping, GIS analysis, resource inventories, site evaluations, developing promotional materials and presentations to educate the public and other park employees.







Images by NPSLearn more about these Summer Geology Jobs at the NPS website.

Labels: Employment

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