MAKING GEOLOGISTS' SKILLS MORE RELEVANT IN THE MARKETPLACE

The application of geological principles in decision making and the incorporation of geological factors in public policy have the ability to raise the relevance of geologists in the marketplace. Geologists serve the public interest through contamination, remediation, and site assessments; in sustainable water resource development; subsurface geophysical and seismologic investigations; coastal and fluvial process studies; mineral and resource investigations; and geotechnical evaluation. Each of which has a clear and present impact on public health and safety. Geologists are uniquely suited to address the aforementioned due to their diverse training. In addition to the traditional curriculum, geologists could benefit from exposure to environmental law and regulations, basic toxicology and risk assessment, and principles of environmental sampling and chemical analysis. Continuing education for Professional Geologists (P.G.s) should include, rather than exclude, educational material of an interdisciplinary nature that assists geoscientists in their multifaceted roles. Examples from the field(s) of forensic geology, environmental management, risk assessment, and geochemistry are presented.