BLOG 12: Why Geology

By Chris Meagher

For this blog I asked the science team how they got interested in geology and why geology is important.

I became interested in geology by accident – I liked science but was not so keen on cutting up stuff in biology.  Geology shapes everything around us. Without plate tectonics we would end up with a flat, boring planet. (Jo Whittaker)

We had a quarry on our farm in Queensland. I spent lots of time in the quarry looking for gold and diamonds (i.e. Quartz and minerals). Geology allows us to understand Earth processes and how humans interact with the environment. Geology is cool! (Rebecca Carey)

In my first year at university, I became interested in Geology through lectures and interesting practical sessions. Geology helps us to understand the basic ideas of how dynamic planet Earth is and how the landscape forms. Also rocks are cool!  (Karin Orth)

From the age of 6 or 7 I was interested in rocks and a few years later I got to visit a volcano! I like volcanology because it’s fun! Geology helps us to gain an awareness of Earth processes and environment, and how they relate to natural hazards. (Martin Jutzeler)

In my first year of university I chose geology as an elective and discovered I enjoyed the hands on practical nature of it. Geology provides a fundamental understanding of the world we live on, as well as how we use it and how we affect it. (Tom Schaap)

My degree involved components of biology as well, but something pulled me towards physical sciences. In light of our present changes, understanding Earth’s past is of vital importance. Earth has an incredible story to tell and geology can tell that story.  (Amanda Thran)

At university I became very enthusiastic for geology as I had the opportunity to go on a field trip to Iceland.  Geology is everything, every building we walk into, roads we have built, technology, history and the beginning of planet Earth.  (Sian Tooze)

I always loved fossils and physical processes and when I took a geology module at university I was hooked! Geology is important because it is all around us, and it is fascinating and exciting. (Lena O’Toole)

I got interested in geology during family holidays visiting old mines. I love the stories rocks tell and studying geology gives us a perspective on Earth, life history and the scales of time (John Hooper)

I was interested in Antarctica, explored options at university and fell into a geology major. Geology gives us different tools to explore what we cannot see. (Fionnuala Campbell)

I became interested in submarine volcanology through a lecture Jo Whittaker gave in my oceanography class. Geology is important as it shows students a science that is not well known. (Stephanie Morrish)

I became interested in geology through volunteer research opportunities. Geology is important as it is literally beneath our feet. It is a foundational field of study. (Zali Potts)

Physical science is the bedrock of our understanding of our planet. (David Witzke)

I always had an interest in geology but it was not until my first year at university that I got passionate about it. We know very little about the deep oceans. Geo rocks! It’s really gneiss! (Rebecca Formanek)