Preparing Geologists for Careers in Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology Paul M. Santi Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, [email protected] Jerry D. Higgins Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, [email protected] ABSTRACT existing facilities, or direct forensic investigations to unravel causes of problems. Many classically- educated geologists have found This broad range of responsibilities requires skills employment as engineering geologists or well beyond what is taught in a typical geology hydrogeologists, gaining the technical knowledge and curriculum. The geology curriculum normally does not skills they need through experience and self-education. include enough soil and rock engineering or engineering Ideally, these individuals would learn the necessary geology fundamentals for the graduate to fully subjects in their undergraduate classes and have a understand the impacts of geology on engineering shorter learning curve on the job. There are many degree design and performance. While educational deficiencies programs that prepare students specifically for these may be identified for most occupations, the relative fields, but students may also be prepared within a importance of these jobs for geoscientists makes it logical standard geology program, with some modifications. that we focus our courses towards these skills. The purpose of this paper is to suggest ways of preparing The job market for engineering geologists and students to enter work or graduate studies in hydrogeologists is strong and will continue to be so in engineering geology or hydrogeology through the the future. According to data from the U.S. Department standard geology curriculum. Critical technical skills, of Labor (2005), approximately 36,000 individuals were such as use of the Unified Soil Classification System or air employed as geoscientists and hydrologists in 2002: of photo interpretation, must be taught as additional topics which 8000 were employed as hydrologists, and 8400 in existing classes. Problem-solving and analytical were in "architecture, engineering, and related services thinking skills can be taught through a variety of (which would include engineering geologists)." For exercises that enhance the geology curriculum without comparison, 4200 individuals worked for oil and gas adding new topics, including in-class discussion extraction companies, 3000 for the Federal government questions, homework and laboratory problems, and and 3400 for State agencies. The document also reports add-ons to mapping and semester projects. Other that employment in the oil and gas industry is expected educational experiences to prepare undergraduates for to be stable through 2010, growing "about as fast as the careers in engineering geology and hydrogeology average for all occupations." Employment for include interaction with professional associations, engineering geologists and hydrologists is expected to internships and co-ops, and professional registration. grow faster than average, due to "issues related to water conservation, deteriorating coastal environments, rising sea levels, … the need to assess building sites for INTRODUCTION potential geologic hazards, to mitigate the effects of natural hazards, … and to address issues related to For many years, geoscientists have played a crucial role pollution control and waste disposal." in the geotechnical, construction, ground-water, and Along similar lines, the American Geological hazardous waste industries. The undergraduate Institute reports that, of those reporting jobs, 37% of curriculum prepares geoscientists for these industries in Bachelor's-level and 50% of Master's-level geoscientists two ways that are unique and valuable: they are taught entered the environmental industry in 2001 (in addition to think in three-dimensions, and they can quickly to hydrogeology, engineering geology work is often develop the ability to predict subsurface conditions conducted in firms broadly categorized as given limited geologic information. Professional "environmental") (AGI, 2001). Clearly, industries outside engineering geologists and hydrogeologists construct of minerals and oil and gas are a significant and conceptual models of the three-dimensional geologic increasing destination for geoscience students. environment that are the basis of most geotechnical and At the Colorado School of Mines, we have a large ground-water projects. They design and carry out program with substantial faculty resources (six full time investigations to develop this geologic model of faculty - three engineering geologists / geological materials and processes. Geologists group the soil and engineers and three ground-water engineers and rock formations encountered into units with similar geologists, in addition to other faculty with expertise in engineering properties or into hydrostratigraphic other areas of geology) dedicated specifically towards packages, so that appropriate laboratory or field tests can preparing students for careers in engineering geology be conducted. Then they judge the reliability of the test and hydrogeology. As geological engineering majors, results, the variability in the values, and the expected our students take typical geology topics: physical lateral and vertical changes across a site. Many times, geology, historical geology and geomorphology these professionals participate in design of structures or (combined course), mineralogy, petrology, structural in plans for development or remediation and will often geology, stratigraphy and sedimentation, field methods, monitor and advise during construction. Finally, and field camp. They also enroll in math and basic engineering geologists and hydrogeologists frequently engineering courses to prepare them to become consult on solutions to earth and water problems at registered as engineers, as well as several courses oriented specifically toward preparing them for their Santi and Higgins - Preparing Geologists for Careers in Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 513 specialty careers (engineering geology and geotechnics, methods); 2) hydrogeology (including contaminant ground-water engineering, engineering geology project transport); and 3) earthquake hazard assessment. He design, hydrogeology project design, soil mechanics, recommended that the graduate geologist should have a rock mechanics, and site investigation). strong knowledge of basic geologic concepts, an Recognizing that most geoscience programs do not understanding of mechanical processes and material have a curriculum in which specific topics in engineering properties, and expertise in at least two of the three fields geology or hydrogeology are offered, the purpose of this listed above. He noted that communication skills are paper is to suggest ways of preparing students to enter equally important. work or graduate studies in these fields through the Molinari (2003) concluded that a broad-based standard geology curriculum. Tailored homework education in geologic fundamentals is necessary, but also assignments, short lecture asides, and brief add-ons to observed that, in his experience in the geotechnical mapping projects and other assignments can shift the consulting industry, crucial technical areas of geology focus of the educational experience to the application of are often insufficiently addressed. These include topics geology to engineering or ground-water problems with in hydrogeology, geomorphology, geographic very little change in course syllabi and without requiring information systems (GIS), imagery interpretation, field extensive experience or expertise from the instructors. methods and mapping, hazard identification and These experiences can significantly improve the interpretation, and technical communication skills students' understanding of engineering geology (especially writing). Likewise, Valentine (1991) felt that fundamentals and should boost the graduate's appeal to strength in most of these topics is essential for new hires industry or graduate schools in engineering geology and in a company. In addition, he suggested that experience hydrogeology. in teamwork problem-solving was beneficial as well as an understanding of professionalism and ethics. PROFESSIONAL’S VIEW OF ACADEMIC Christenson (2003) discussed the desirable PREPARATION background for graduates to conduct engineering geology work in a state geological survey. He suggested Between 1987 and 2003 the Association of Engineering that the best preparation includes a Master's degree. He Geologists (AEG) held two symposia on education in listed a number of topic/skill areas in which the engineering geology and related areas such as geologist should have a strong background. These environmental geology and hydrogeology. The first include engineering geology, hydrogeology, Quaternary symposium was held at the 1987 annual meeting and a geology, geomorphology, air photo interpretation, related publication was later released (Higgins and structural geology and tectonics, soil and rock Williams, 1991). One purpose of the symposium and mechanics, geophysics (including seismology), geologic publication was to provide students and geoscience mapping and field methods, strong written and verbal faculty with information on the content of specialized skills, and geographic information systems. He also programs and the expectations of industry for new hires recommended that graduates have some training in in engineering