By: Sarah Kalika
In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8), I’m guest-authoring this column highlighting some well-known American female geologists and outstanding women of AEG’s leadership who continue to inspire us.
This blog originally appeared on December 1, 2020 and has been reissued.
Of all the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math), geology may be the one science where it is perhaps the most instructive and imperative to do your most significant work outside of an office or lab. As the study of the Earth and its processes, you will benefit greatly from time spent in the field, observing, measuring and studying the movement and interplay between soil, rock, water, environmental factors and engineered works.
The Adventure
While those early morning classes for your degree may not sound too enticing, few things may slake one’s curiosity as much as fieldwork. Through direct observation, fieldwork enables the geologist to grapple with the chaotic mess about us we call the world and attempt to distill it into underlying foundational concepts. Through this process, one must be willing to climb over hill and dale as the urge for discovery drives onward, turning over rocks no one has ever seen before to ponder its clues. Even so, fieldwork must invariably lead to returning to a lab for the inglorious work of systematic measurements ever repeated for accuracy. Thus, it is not merely the adrenaline rush which keeps the geologist at work. Here too, however, is the mystery of discovery, for through meticulous measurement one may draw forth the geologic story like a skillful detective. By these means one may better acquaint oneself with nature’s many mysteries.
Energy
photo by WGodwin, 10.11.14
Your studies and experiences during college are invaluable in preparing you for a future in the geologic sciences. But academic training, however thorough, can never fully prepare you for life as a professional working in your field.
The demands of working as an Applied Geologist can be difficult for those with family obligations, especially if your position involves a lot of field work and travel. It can be a bit of a balancing act to maintain a healthy, happy home life when you are frequently on the road.
Bringing home souvenirs is nice, but your kids and spouse would likely rather have your time and attention than a t-shirt or a paperweight. We have some tips for making this type of on-the-go position work for an Applied Geologist with a family.
Applied Geology can be a lucrative profession. Professional, experienced geologists will have opportunities to hold well-compensated and prestigious positions at large petroleum companies, governmental agencies and large corporations. It can, therefore be challenging to recruit the best prospects for your small firm over these other potential options.
Blue Mesa in Petrified Forest [credit: NPS, public domain]
Continuing our series of articles on geology travel in the United States (see Travels in Geology - California and Utah), this month we are featuring some of the fantastic opportunities to experience geological wonders throughout the state of Arizona. (Be sure to check on all locations for current visiting protocols during Covid.)
So you’ve just decided to set out and become your own boss as an Applied Geosciences consultant. Congratulations! Of course, now comes the hard part, attracting customers. We have some tips for marketing yourself and your new consultation services.
Create a compelling short summary of what you offer.
Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas found commonly in many buildings. It is known to cause lung cancer. Because it is colorless and odorless and can easily build up to dangerous levels in the enclosed spaces of our homes and workplaces, it poses a particularly sneaky hidden threat. Structures of any age can be susceptible to high radon levels, however there are certain areas of the country that are at an increased risk of elevated radon levels. Visit the EPA’s interactive radon map to see the risk level in your area.
Radon gas forms in the Earth’s crust during the uranium decaying process. It rises through the surface of bedrock and soil, where it seeps into buildings through foundations and subfloor levels. If the radon gas does not have the ability to dissipate, it can build up and expose the people within to significant health risks.
By Stefanie Voss, PE, PG, AEG St. Louis Chapter
My adventure took place in October 2020 and included a road trip to western Colorado and Eastern Utah. This trip came about to visit destinations that I and travel buddy Anna Saindon (also a St. Louis Chapter member) wanted to see for a number of years. This blog is based on a presentation I gave on April 22, 2021 to the AEG St. Louis Chapter on my travel experiences with the geology and its relation to the ancestral peoples, and highlights both Mesa Verde National Park and Dinosaur National Monument. Since I enjoyed this trip so much, I wanted to share it with you!
Understanding Business Entities, Taxes, Liability and Insurance
When most people think about the work of a geologist, they picture someone looking at and studying rocks and fossils. But hydrology, the study of groundwater, is a crucial area of concern for many applied geologists.
It is nearly summer, and that means vacations, travel and road trips. As a follow-up to our article Travels in Geology - California, this month we have decided to feature some of the fantastic opportunities to experience geological wonders throughout the state of Utah. (Be sure to check on all locations for current visiting protocols during Covid.)
The forces of erosion and climate have exposed an extraordinary diversity of rocks and geologic formations throughout Utah, making it a fascinating location to visit and explore. The commanding landscape documents the ongoing processes of wind and water erosion, the formation and disappearance of glaciers and lakes, and the land-altering impacts of powerful earthquakes and volcanoes.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, AEG would like to highlight and celebrate some of our notable female leaders, specifically our Woman Presidents.
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Women’s History Month – American Women in the Geosciences
By: Sarah Kalika
In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8), I’m guest-authoring this column highlighting some well-known American female geologists and outstanding women of AEG’s leadership who continue to inspire us.
Damage from January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake (USGS, public domain)
One of the most important functions that an Applied Geologist can undertake is to study and assess the risk of human injury and property damage posed by potential geologic hazards. This allows the geologist to make recommendations to mitigate those hazards, thereby fulfilling a critically important societal need.
Maintaining the structural integrity of adjacent building foundations becomes an expensive condition for tank removals due to the added cost and time to properly shore the excavation while performing the removal (Figure 1). Similar issues occur if the tank is adjacent to a property boundary, roadway, or a retaining wall. Utilities that cross over or near the tank would require protection and care before and during excavation activities.
If the tank removal is being conducted on an active site, or if the tank is in or near a roadway, other tanks in use, fuel pumps, or in an area of work, there could be a large disruption to the business or safety issues for multiple parties if removing the tank (Figure 2).
Anna Saindon, P.E., R.G., Ph.D., AEG Member, St. Louis Chapter
Environmental Senior Project Manager – Geotechnology, Inc.
