Why studying Geology is considered old-fashioned

While emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are responsible for designing a robot for space programmes trying to learn about other planets, the first job assigned to the robot is to collect soil or rock samples. The objective is to understand the planet’s geology. Several metals that we use every day, including steel, copper and silver, are all products of geology.
Geology is just not only the study of origin and evolution of rocks and minerals, but it also includes the study of various landforms including mountains, hills, valleys, plateaus, rivers, glaciers and also many activities that happen on the earth’s surface including landslides, volcanoes, earthquakes and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF).
“Considering the mindset of the present generation, our education system and the global job market, pursuing geology as a carrier option has become challenging and old fashioned. But its importance is felt more as it explores the earth, as it is the only source of natural resources that can facilitate sustainable socio-economic development,” says Ashish Kumar Nath, director, Geological Survey of India (GSI).
Why Geology is not popular
“Geology and Geography have been treated as synonyms for years, which reflects upon the lack of awareness and understanding about the field,” says Sajin Kumar KS, assistant professor, Department of Geology, Kerala University.
Geology is taught as a part of Geography at school-level and not many institutes offer Geology courses at the undergraduate level. The field is treated as a separate branch of science only at the post-graduation and research levels, says BP Singh, professor and head, Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
Geology as a subject is still not popular in India and is treated as a side-lined subject. By the time a student becomes eligible to start his/her career in Geology he seems to have lost precious years from his professional calendar, says Nath. “GSI has been lobbying with the HRD ministry and CBSE/ICSE/ state boards and councils for the inclusion of Geology as a subject in the secondary and higher secondary syllabus (Class-VIII to XII) in all the schools across the country,” he adds.
No dearth of career prospects
Geology teaches one to manage environmental protection while mineral and oil exploration. It enables you to acquire skill sets in innumerable fields. “From labour management in the field to the job of a CEO, students of Geology acquire a broad skill-set. A geologist can work in engineering and consulting firms, government agencies, mining companies, groundwater agency, petroleum companies, museums, software (GIS) field, space science etc. They also can attempt to take up UPSC Civil Services exam with Geology as one of the options as it is known as a scoring subject over others,” says Nath.
Students have to pursue PG studies after their UG courses with Geology and then they can get jobs as a geologist, geophysicist, engineering geologist, hydrogeologists, palaeontologist, mineralogists, petrologist, reservoir engineers in oil companies/geo-environmentalists to name a few.
Changing ecosystem for women
As per the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) 2018-19 report, the ratio of female and male students is 1:2. A total of 4340 male students were enrolled in postgraduate programmes against 2794 females. In MPhil courses, there were 49 men and only 16 women. Of the total 876 PhDs awarded in Geology, only 319 were awarded to women.
Singh says that the representation of women in the field is less because it is purely a field science and not many women are allowed or interested to engage in field jobs because of the social construct and family responsibilities. But, the situation has improved when there was only one female student in Singh’s class 30 years ago.
Kumar agrees because when he was studying Geology during 1993-1996, hardly any girl took up the course and now there are more women enrolled in MSc Geology than men at Kerala University.
Steps to follow:
(i) One must be passionate about Geology and should be happy to go to the remote part of the land/sea, as geology is best learnt in the hills, mountains and forest areas.
(ii) Students should opt for geology in the class XII itself (many institutions have that option), otherwise, take pure science (PCM) in class XII. Then opt for BSc in Geology (Honours) with Physics and Math or Chemistry and Math or Physics and Chemistry as a combination.
(iii) Aspirants can opt for MSc, MSc Tech or appear for GATE and pursue MTech in specialised fields at IITs or reputed institutions.
(iv) Usually, students get a stable job after pursuing master’s but one can also appear for CSIR-NET for PhD as JRF/SRF.