昆士兰科技大学

Highlights

Specialise in identifying and analysing earth materials, environments and geological processes relevant to industry.
Play a key role in the search for fuels and minerals, solutions for climate change or marine and freshwater environments.
Gain hands-on, practical skills and field experience using real-world examples and materials.
Prepare for a range of careers within the resource or the environmental sector, from field geologist to research scientist, environmental scientist, or hydrologist.
Work in environmental consulting or research, tackling geotechnical, groundwater contamination, natural hazards or climate change issues.

Why choose this course?

If you enjoy working outdoors and are interested in understanding how the world works, then you will find earth science a rewarding area of study. Blending current research issues and problem solving with theory and industry-related, hands-on practicals, the earth science major provides you with a fundamental background to pursue a career in either the resource or the environmental sector.

The Earth is an amazing place and for an earth scientist, it offers a unique natural laboratory that covers space and time. Earth science is a multidisciplinary science that applies chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics tools to understand earth processes, decipher its past and predict its future. Earth scientists work to monitor changes in the Earth’s environment and suggest solutions to problems. They study natural hazards to prevent loss of life and reduce property damage. Earth scientists play key roles in the search for fuels and minerals. Climate change, earthquakes and geothermal energy are just a few of the issues that require knowledge of earth science.

Earth science (also known as geoscience) blends the traditional fields of geology, physical geography and oceanography/ hydrology. Geology describes the rocky parts of the Earth’s crust (or lithosphere) and its development. Physical geography, which studies the Earth’s surface, includes geomorphology, soil science and biogeoscience. The marine and freshwater parts of the Earth define the fields of oceanography and hydrology.

Careers and outcomes

There is currently a shortage of earth scientists in Australia and employment rates are high and salaries great. Earth scientists are in high demand in the energy sector (oil, gas, coal, geothermal) and exploration and mining industries. Many earth scientists find employment in environmental consulting companies tackling geotechnical, groundwater contamination, natural hazards or climate change issues. Earth scientists may work for government agencies such as CSIRO and Geoscience Australia doing applied research, or for state or local governments.

Possible careers

• Exploration Geologist
• Geophysicist
• Geoscientist
• Government Officer
• Hydrogeologist
• Laboratory Assistant
• Mapping Scientist
• Marine Scientist
• Mine Geologist
• Natural Resource Scientist
• Project Manager