EDITOR’S CORNER
We Live In (Geologic)
Jean M. Neubeck, CPG-11438
How do you respond when people ask you “What do you do?” I’ve vacillated over the years, saying generic things like “I’m a consultant” when I want to change the conversation, and sometimes I’ve been an “environmental consultant” in certain company. But I’ve noticed that I have to steel myself when I come right out and say “I’m a geologist.” I’ll bet most of us can relate - at some point we’ve heard reactions ranging from “Oh, you look at rocks” or, “That’s like archaeol- ogy, right?” In more recent years, it can become a flash point when people thrust you into policy with, “Really? What do you think of hydrofracing?” as you mingle at a wedding reception.
So, do you assuage your interrogator with a non-committal reply - after all, they probably are politely breaking the ice and the social situation likely doesn’t merit a refereed debate. But for me, it’s a good time to represent geologists’ contri- butions to society. With the exception of obvious small-talk situations, I’ve been expanding my reply with plain language such as “I’m a geologist, I specialize in cleaning up contaminated properties,” or “I find and test public ground water supplies,” or “We help miners locate construction materials for roads and bridges.”
Geology has always been interest- ing to geologists, but recent headlines emphasize that we certainly “live in interesting times,” as the old curse goes. There have been major landslides in Washington while fires are stripping slopes in western states and setting the stage for soil erosion. We debate the Keystone pipeline while there have been oil and natural gas employment booms and busts, and political maneuvering to secure precious minerals from unstable allies and “unreliable” countries. The most recent disaster was the EPA’s own snafu of breaching a mine impound- ment that released toxic metals into the Animas River in Colorado and into New
Mexico. Dr. Robert G. Font, CPG- 03953, reported on the recent flooding in Texas elsewhere in this TPG issue, while dire drought conditions in California are depleting aquifers. And who hasn’t been asked about climate change? These days, it’s easy to illustrate the importance of geology and how it impacts everyday life.
We’ve heard the advice that we need an “elevator speech” to concisely con- vey our professional qualifications to a potential employer or client within a few sentences - in the short time it takes an elevator to reach your floor - so it makes sense to develop a similar reply for people to understand what you actually do as a geologist. Armed with some concise descriptions to illustrate the breath of geology, I’m starting to enjoy, rather than dread, the reactions. When people express more interest, I’ve used the opportunity to shed some light regarding public sources of information, geosciences employment potential, and recruiting others by encouraging their interest in any of the sciences.
AIPG member David M. Abbott, Jr., CPG-04570, has developed an infor- mative field trip and accompanying guide, “The Consequences of Living with Geology: A Model Field Trip for the General Public.” The field trip and guide examine various locations in the Denver area and are designed to educate the public by demonstrating how geology affects peoples’ lives every day.
Field trip stops include a subsiding and burning underground coal mine, unstable slopes, flooding, and construc- tion damage from expansive clays, among others. David’s field trip guide can be viewed on AIPG website under the Colorado Section publications.
It is the public that ultimately drives the demand for goods and services, so the public must understand and value those geologic services. We can both educate and add value to our profession
by demonstrating the impacts of geology viewed in the context of how society must cope with, or attempt to reconcile, our active, living earth.
This spring I spoke about “what geologists do” at three separate career events that included grade school, col- lege undergraduates, and middle school students. The presentations at schools included passing around rock cores and performing hands-on demonstrations. A resourceful friend has captured audi- ences by showing a video of blasting a rock face at a quarry, which especially delights younger people. It was a plea- sure to meet those students, but I did not anticipate such thought-provoking comments and stump-the-geologist questions! Hopefully, participating in outreach events has helped stir a few minds into thinking about studying earth science.
There have never been more “interest- ing times” for geology and geologists to take center stage. Consider whether you or your local organization could compile a short field trip, a video clip, demonstra- tion, or slide presentation to highlight the unique or problematic geologic issues and solutions in your community and how geologists contribute to society.
Maybe the next time I’m enjoying a beer and a pleasant time in the company of non-geologists, I may just enlighten someone else or even myself.
Editor’s Note: The subject matter of TPG columns is not coordinated (except the annual Student Issue) so I was pleased that AIPG President Foster Sawyer chose a similar theme, but took a difference perspective, of the need for geologists to educate and communicate effectively with the public. Please read Sawyer’s column on page 29, which dis- cusses the need to improve the public’s understanding and the value of geology and the geosciences.
Interesting Times
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