Madam, - "Never a better time to consider a career in science" writes Brian Mooney (The Irish Times, January 19th). We are in total agreement with this sentiment. However in outlining the choices open to those wishing to study science, your correspondent makes no mention of degree courses in the earth sciences offered in four Irish universities. This is a serious omission in view of the emphasis now placed on earth sciences in the Leaving Certificate curriculum for Geography.
A degree in earth sciences is the basis for a career in hydrogeology, environmental geology, engineering geology, the mineral and hydrocarbon exploration industries, and teaching. For students wishing to pursue a non-scientific career, the earth sciences provide an excellent education, demanding good levels of both literacy and numeracy, and providing an attractive mix of theory, laboratory work and field-based study.
Honours degree courses are offered by the departments of geology and geography at TCD, the departments of geology at UCC and UCD, and the department of earth and ocean Sciences at NUI Galway. - Yours, etc.
IAN SANDERS, GEORGE SEVASTOPULO, Department of Geology, Trinity College, Dublin 2.