How To Become A Geophysicist
If you’re reading this article, you may already know what a geophysicist is, and why you might want to become one. If not, though, let me take a little time to fill you in. As someone with a degree in geophysics, I am quite used to getting blank stares when I explain what I majored in in school. If you’d like to become a geophysicist, you need to get used to this sort of thing rather quickly. However, as a result of having to explain my major every single time I was asked about it, I fairly quickly developed a simple, concise explanation of what a geophysicist is.
What Is A Geophysicist?
In short, a geophysicist is, as the name suggests, something of a hybrid between a geologist and a physicist. Geophysicists use their knowledge of the material properties of the earth (and sometimes other planets) to form an image of the area beneath the surface, known from now on as the “subsurface.” The most straightforward analogy is to the world of medical imaging, where practitioners use their knowledge of the physical properties of the human body to see under the skin in a non invasive manner. In the world of medical imaging, there are multiple techniques (ultrasound, x-ray, MRI, etc.) with different applications, and the same thing applies to the world of geophysics.
In their quest to image the subsurface, geophysicists require an understanding of geology, but it is important to understand that a geophysicist is not a geologist. If your dream job is running around outside get up close and personal with rocks, being a geophysicist is not for you. However, if you’re into physics and mathematics, and are looking for a very applied field to use these skills, geophysics might just be for you.
Some of these applications include mineral and petroleum exploration, water exploration, archeology, detection of unexploded ordinance, the study of earthquakes, and engineering. As you can imagine, being able to see underneath the ground without digging a hole is a useful for a broad range of applications. Each of these different applications typically use a combination of different methods. Seismic exploration, which is somewhat similar to a very large scale ultrasound, is king in the world of oil exploration. Mineral exploration often uses a combination of electrical, magnetic, and gravity based methods. Archeologists will use ground penetrating radar, and the bomb finders will use electromagnetic methods. There are a broad range of detection techniques that fall under the umbrella of “geophysics.”
So, what does a geophysicist actually do from day to day? As you might imagine, it really depends upon the application. Some will be out in the field, collecting data with various geophysical instruments. Others will be in the office, processing the data. There are people who take the processed data, interpret it, and make decisions based upon what they determine (i.e., is there oil here)? Some others will be developing tools to help others do all of this. There may be some jobs that require a little bit of all the skills outlined here. There are those who research new methods of doing all of the above. As you can see, the day to day life of a geophysicist can be almost anything you want it to be.
Becoming A Geophysicist
So, how does one become a geophysicist? As you might imagine, formal higher education is involved. There are several schools that offer undergraduate programs in geophysics. If you already know this is the field you want to be in, enrolling in one of these programs might be a good idea. However, there are many geophysicists who majored in physics, geology, math, computer science, and any number of other technical fields before proceeding to graduate school in geophysics. It really depends upon what your goals are academically and career wise. However, it is certain that you will need to get a good solid grounding in college level math and physics before proceeding on to any graduate program in geophysics.
Once you have your undergraduate degree, it’s time for graduate school. Most geophysicists have a post graduate education, so if you are going to be making this a career, it’s not a bad idea to make sure you have at least a masters degree. Here, you will want to have some idea of what discipline you want to go into. Do some serious homework into the different departments from different schools you are considering, and make sure you find one that is right for you. While in grad school (and even undergrad), you want to be networking as much as possible in order to get in touch with future potential employers. This won’t be hard to do, and can be accomplished easily by attending the annual conferences for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and the American Geophysical Union (AGU). Keep your ears open, work hard in school, do some internships, and you should be ready to find a job.
As stated before, there are many job options in the world of geophysics. However, the bulk of the jobs are in the oil and mining industries, which are often cyclical. This can be scary, but if you’ve been networking and gaining experience in internships while still in school, you have a pretty good shot at finding a job. Of course, some choose to follow the path into academia, while others will choose to start their own businesses. It really depends on what you want to do with it.
In short, geophysics can be a great career for those looking to use their analytical skills for something very useful and rewarding. If this sounds like something you want to do, be sure to check out the resources listed below to find out more about how to become a geophysicist. It’s a rewarding career for many, and it might just be a great choice for you.
Resources
Society of Exploration Geophysicists – One of the largest industry groups in the field. The annual conference has to be attended if you’re at all interested in the petroleum industry.
American Geophysical Union – Another group, more focused on science than industry.