WorldWide Drilling Resource

25 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JULY 2013 What is a Geological Engineer? Adapted from Information by Missouri University of Science and Technology Geological engineers work on a vari- ety of projects including those in the en- vironmental field. They could work on a project to protect wetlands, or assist with the cleanup of contaminated soil, as well as working to mitigate hazards associat- ed with geological processess such as earthquakes, and much more. The Missouri University of Science andTechnology (Missouri S&T) in Rolla, offers a degree in Geological Engineering with spe- cial geological emphasis on environmental pro- tection and waste management. Some of the topics covered in this area include: 2 Environmental geological engi- neering 2 Geological aspects of hazardous waste management 2 Subsurface hydrology and trans- port mechanics 2 Soil science in engineering prac- tice 2 Statistical methods in environmen- tal geology and engineering 2 Environmental aspects of mining 2 Risk assessment in environmen- tal studies 2 Groundwater remediation The environment is an important issue in which geological engineers often focus their work. Entry level geological engineers could work for an agency such as the Department of Natural Resources, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, or possibly with a consulting firm focusing on environmental protection, hazardous waste cleanup, groundwater protection, and geologic hazards. Geological engineers are uniquely trained to be sensitive to geological un- certainty and natural variations in the soil, rock, and subsurface fluids, while using problem-solving skills to develop innova- tive solutions to environmental problems. Geological engineers often travel and work outdoors. In addition to designing waste storage facilities and groundwater cleanup plans, they may become environ- mental experts with respect to petroleum and gas facilities or operations. Finally, many geological engineers work to lessen the hazards caused by environmental and geological processes such as landslides and flooding. There are various paths for geologi- cal engineers, such as working in the groundwater, construction/geotechnical, mining, petroleum, or aggregate indus- tries. The demand for geological engi- neers is great and expected to continue over the next five years. If you know of anyone who may be interested in pursuing a career as a geo- logical engineer, check out the program offered through Missouri S&T.