ROCK OF WAGES

LIKE the employment prospects of so many other careers, "geology tends to be cyclical", says Dr Patrick Wyse Jackson, museum curator, lecturer at TCD's department of geology and former president of the Irish Geological Association.

Wyse Jackson cites the recent finds of major zinc and lead deposits in Ireland which will lead to increased employment. Some geologists have also found employment with a company which is drilling for petroleum off the Galway coast. The application of geology today includes the search for and study of natural resources in the earth's crust including minerals, oil, gas, water geothermal resources and aggregates for construction and environmental impact assessment.

The cyclical nature of the jobs market is borne out by the findings of a survey by the Association of Graduate Careers Services in Ireland on graduates in 1994. One of its findings is that "geological employment is particularly subject to economic recession, to political and economic change and to the creation of demand for alternative energy sources." In other words, it's difficult to predict too far in advance.

The survey found that geology graduates possess developed critical and analytical skills and are well equipped to look at the range of non-geological careers. The researchers concluded that post-graduate study is undertaken by a significant number of geology students.

According to a FAS brochure, a degree in science specialising in geology or earth science is the minimum requirement for becoming a geologist. Many graduates go on to get a higher degree, such as a Master's, in geophysics, petroleum geology, geochemistry, economic geology or environmental geology.

Wyse Jackson estimates that a maximum of 100 new graduates come on stream each year. There are geology departments in most universities. "Most graduates would go straight into employment," says Wyse Jackson. A good number also emigrate to places such as Australia, he says. A further number go on to pursue post-graduate studies.

The Geological Survey of Ireland, which is based in Beggar's Bush, Dublin, takes on between 10 and 20 geologists each year on a temporary or contract basis. "We do offer a possibility for young graduates to get experience," says Peadar McArdle, director of the Survey.

Although mines have done serious environmental damage in the past, says McArdle, mines today, such as those at Galmoy, Co Kilkenny, or at Navan, Co Meath, are world leaders in environmental terms.

UCC offers a B Sc (honours) course in geology, as well as a B Sc (honours) course in earth science which is run in conjunction with the department of geography.

The UCD science faculty, the largest in the country, has courses in geology and geophysical science.

At UCG a denominated degree programme in earth science extends over a diverse range of scientific disciplines including geology, geophysics, oceanography, meteorology and hydrology.

TCD runs a four-year honours degree B Sc course which provides a broadly-based science education in the first two years, offering the opportunity to specialise in several subjects including geology and earth sciences in third and fourth years.

Athlone RTC is the country's only centre for mineral engineering. It offers a chance to study for a national diploma in mining engineering, with the possibility of transferring to degree programmes in the UK. Athlone is the only college producing graduates specifically for the mining industry. It's worth remembering also that Queen's University, Belfast, has a geology degree as well as a degree in geography and geology and another in physics with geology.