Earth Sciences University of New Brunswick

Overview

The Department of Earth Sciences offers the Bachelor in Earth Sciences program of University of New Brunswick, and in Environmental Geosciences as well as joint programs in earth sciences and physics. Earth Sciences offers field schools and field training opportunities throughout its 4-year degree programs.

Earth scientists, also called geoscientists and geologists, study the origin and evolution of oceans and continents. This includes the formation of mountain ranges, valleys, glaciers, and lakes. They also study the causes and effects of natural hazards, such as those created by land- and rock-slides, earthquakes, floods and droughts, sea- and lake-level changes, and volcanic eruptions.

Earth scientists also investigate:

• the origin, migration and quality of groundwater
• the monitoring and mitigation of river and coastal erosion or flooding
• sea- and lake-level rise and fall
• climate change

They study the origin of Earth's natural resources and are extensively involved in the discovery and environmentally responsible development of metallic minerals, salts, water, clay, sand, gravel, cement, coal, oil and natural gas that society uses for construction of the built environment, agriculture and drinking water, communications and energy.

Career paths

• Groundwater Specialist/Geochemist - Hydrogeologist
• Reclamation and Remediation Specialist/Contaminated Site Manager - Environmental Assessment Specialist
• Geohazard Specialist - Glaciologist – Applied Geomorphologist – Geophysicist/Seismologist - –Structural geologist – Volcanologist
• Geophysicist
• Mineral or Petroleum Exploration/Development/Production Geologist - Mine Geologist
• Marine Geologist/Oceanographer – (bio-)stratigrapher/(micro-)paleontologist
• Teacher - Museum Curator - Geotourist Guide - Science Journalist/Technical Writer