Geology Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Geology - Research Paper Example An environmental geologist, to my mind, has an important role to play in keeping the planet Earth clean, green, and safe. I choose this degree for the reason that I love the Mother Earth -- this is the only place I love to live. The environmental geology might be a new science; yet, its key function provides a much brighter world for the future inhabitants of this pale-blue-dot planet. This paper will discuss the brief story, specialized field, responsibilities, and prospects of the profession called environmental geology. Brief Story Erickson remarks that the technical profession called environmental geology is a â€Å"relatively new science† (ix). Perhaps by relative he means the emergence of environmental geology as a separate discipline of geology science in the late 20th century. The rising concern of the Earth’s environmental degradation, depletion, and near destruction significantly occurred since the late-20th-century. As such, people had made important ways to prevent the utter extinction of the green planet and the human race as well. The science of geology, as it has been seen, greatly contributed and continues to contribute to the better understanding of the changing physical world. It has been argued that the Earth’s fundamental changes (e.g., change of land formation and of temperature) were the results of human miscalculated activities. Erickson notes that people are called â€Å"human volcano† for the reason that they have the power to destroy the physical environment in an instant (ix). The human-induced damages, either conscious or not, to the natural world are comparable to the long-time geologic processes (Erickson ix). But like a volcano, humans have the capacity, if there is a will, to recreate, relive, and re-empower the world in which they live. And the environmental geologist plays a vital role in transforming the natural world into something worth residing and living. Specialized Field In the field of geolog y -- as well as other natural sciences -- such area of human knowledge is becoming more specialized in the contemporary epoch. Unlike other geologists, environmental geologists have specific work activities or programs to perform. Camenson provides a list of things to do for the environmental geologists: conduct research, analyze and report, understand the issues involved, among other works (94). Camenson says that an environmental geologist has to conduct research in order to â€Å"identify, reduce, and eliminate sources of pollutants and hazards† (94). What the environmental geologist does, among others, is to study and determine certain causes of a particular environmental phenomenon. Equipped with the knowledge of the Earth, this geologist explores the sources that created a problem to the natural world -- including man’s built environment. Analysis and reportage are other job activities of an environmental geologist. The environmental geologist does the analysis f rom his or her gathered measurements and observations. Moreover, this geologist fully knows and understands the environmental issues in promoting, protecting, and enhancing the environment. Curriculum It is true to say that most geology is environmental geology in reality (Ransom and Wainwright 2), nevertheless, environmental geology as a work profession is much more focused and highly concentrated in contrast to other disciplines of geology (e.g., forensic geology). Probably the variations between the environmental