1.2: What Are the Geosciences?

What Are the Geosciences?

Earth is a complex and dynamic place, with many moving components and processes. Geoscience (Earth Science) Links to an external site. examines the Earth: a considerably massive subject. Take a minute to think about everything you encounter every day that is connected with Earth. Is your mind blown yet? Welcome to the career of a geoscientist! A geoscientist is someone who studies the Earth System. Geoscientists have varied and diverse careers. Many are employed by universities where they teach and/or do research, and state and federal agencies, including geological surveys, like the California Geological Survey Links to an external site. or United State Geological Survey (USGS) Links to an external site.. Additional career pathways include environmental policy, legislation and consulting, or science communication via the private sector or state and federal agencies. Many of these career options require a college degree and postgraduate work. If you are interested in the geosciences, talk with your geology instructor for advice.

The broad range of subjects within geoscience are frequently multidisciplinary Links to an external site., involving cross-over with many other fields including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Social Sciences, and the Arts. A geoscientist typically solves problems using an interdisciplinary Links to an external site. approach. This requires them to work with and learn from many fields to address diverse questions. For example, a paleoclimatologist, a scientist who studies climates of the past, searches for information about past climate through ice or sediment cores, fossils, and rocks. The information they collect can be used to understand climate through past geologic time but also current and future climate change. Their research can be utilized for hazard mitigation, planning, and preparation at the city, county, state, and federal levels.

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the geosciences, we recommend completing as many math and science courses as possible. Also, visit National Parks Links to an external site., CA State Parks Links to an external site., museums, gem & mineral shows, or join a local rock and mineral club. Typically, natural history museums will have wonderful displays of rocks, including those from your local region. Here in California, there are a number of large collections, including the San Diego Natural History Museum Links to an external site., Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Links to an external site., Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Links to an external site., and Kimball Natural History Museum Links to an external site.. Many colleges and universities also have their own collections/museums.

Within the geosciences, there is the discipline geology Links to an external site., the scientific study of the Earth. In general, geology has two major branches of study: 1) Physical Geology, which focuses primarily on what the Earth is composed of and how its processes work beneath and at the surface, and 2) Historical Geology, which examines the evolution of Earth through geologic time. There are aspects of geology that are directly testable and others that cannot be directly tested. Geologists must use their imagination to discover aspects about the Earth and its history that we cannot directly observe.

Within this physical geology laboratory manual, we will focus on materials that make up the Earth, like minerals and rocks, and Earth processes, including plate tectonics, weathering and erosion, and many others. The topics covered in this manual are varied and well-suited for an introductory level community college course. We hope that you enjoy the topics and become more curious about the world around you!