IKON
Harrison Hagan “Jack” Schmitt is an American geologist, retired NASA astronaut, university professor. Schmitt became the first member of NASA’s first scientist-astronaut group to fly in space. As Apollo 17 was the last of the Apollo missions, he also became the twelfth person to set foot on the Moon. Schmitt also remains the first and only professional scientist to have flown beyond low Earth orbit and to have visited the Moon.
He was influential within the community of geologists supporting the Apollo program and, before starting his own preparations for an Apollo mission, had been one of the scientists training those Apollo astronauts chosen to visit the lunar surface.
He has B.S. degree in geology from the California Institute of Technology in 1957 and then spent a year studying geology at the University of Oslo in Norway. He received a Ph.D. in geology from Harvard University in 1964, based on his geological field studies in Norway.
He worked at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Center at Flagstaff, Arizona, developing geological field techniques that would be used by the Apollo crews. Following his selection, Schmitt spent his first year at Air Force UPT learning to become a jet pilot. Upon his return to the astronaut corps in Houston, he played a key role in training Apollo crews to be geologic observers when they were in lunar orbit and competent geologic field workers when they were on the lunar surface. After each of the landing missions, he participated in the examination and evaluation of the returned lunar samples and helped the crews with the scientific aspects of their mission reports.
While on the Moon’s surface, Schmitt — the only geologist in the astronaut corps — collected the rock sample designated Troctolite 76535, which has been called “without doubt the most interesting sample returned from the Moon”. Among other distinctions, it is the central piece of evidence suggesting that the Moon once possessed an active magnetic field.
Schmitt collects lunar specimens during the Apollo 17 mission.
What is the job all about?
Geology is the study of the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the structure of those materials, and the processes acting upon them. It includes the study of organisms that have inhabited our planet. An important part of geology is the study of how Earth’s materials, structures, processes and organisms have changed over time
Why do landslides, earthquakes, floods , volcanic eruptions, tsunamis occur? Certain regions/areas are prone to disasters like flooding, earthquakes, tsunami’s, etc. Geologists, therefore, recommend that these areas should not be used for strategic structures like dams, nuclear power plants, etc. Geologist are also involved with studies that might locate oil bearing regions or having natural gas resources, minerals and water; by studying earth structures of previous oil discoveries and comparing them to the new regions.
Geologists study earth materials: People use earth materials every day. They use oil that is produced from wells, metals that are produced from mines, and water that has been drawn from streams or from underground. Geologists conduct studies that locate rocks that contain important metals, plan the mines that produce them and the methods used to remove the metals from the rocks. They do similar work to locate and produce oil, natural gas and groundwater.
Shale gas in the United States is rapidly increasing as an available source of natural gas. Led by new applications of hydraulic fracturing technology and horizontal drilling, development of new sources of shale gas has offset declines in production from conventional gas reservoirs, and has led to major increases in reserves of US natural gas. Largely due to shale gas discoveries, estimated reserves of natural gas in the United States in 2008 were 35% higher than in 2006.
In 2007, shale gas fields included the #2 (Barnett/Newark East) and #13 (Antrim) sources of natural gas in the United States in terms of gas volumes produced. The number of unconventional natural gas wells in the US rose from 18,485 in 2004 to 25,145 in 2007 and is expected to continue increasing until about 2040.
As of 2013, the US, Canada, and China are the only countries producing shale gas in commercial quantities. The US and Canada are the only countries where shale gas is a significant part of the gas supply.
Shale gas is natural gas that is found trapped within shale formations. Shale gas has become an increasingly important source of natural gas in the United States since the start of this century, and interest has spread to potential gas shales in the rest of the world. In 2000 shale gas provided only 1% of U.S. natural gas production; by 2010 it was over 20% and the U.S. government’s Energy Information Administration predicts that by 2035, 46% of the United States’ natural gas supply will come from shale gasSome analysts expect that shale gas will greatly expand worldwide energy supply. China is estimated to have the world’s largest shale gas reserves.
Some 2011 studies pointed to high rates of decline of some shale gas wells as an indication that shale gas production may ultimately be much lower than is currently projected. But shale-gas discoveries are also opening up substantial new resources of tight oil / “shale oil”.
Can I go for it?
If you want to be where the action is, then perhaps an Oil or Mineral Company might be an ideal place, where studies are undertaken to continually monitor the quality and expected quantity of water, minerals, gas, oil; provided you are prepared to stay in difficult locations for considerable periods of time. Geology is also a research field i.e. study the frequency of earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and the causes of it.
Is there a future in this career?
Climatic changes are causing major changes in weather conditions. Extensive studies need to be done on protecting the ozone layer. On the other hand there are concerns about shortage of gas and oil, need for new deposits of coals, minerals, etc. These studies are ongoing and, therefore, the need of qualified manpower.
In fact, Scientists who have done advanced studies in a geology specialty area, such as palaeontology, mineralogy, hydrology or volcanology, are in tremendous demand these days. Due to increase in prices of Oil, Companies in the US have started extracting Oil from Shale Rock; using latest technology called cracking. Hitherto, it was felt that it was very expensive to process for Oil in this manner – but to-day it is feasible. Perhaps, India too has shale rock waiting to be exploited.
Where to Begin?
In Goa:
After 10 + 2 in PCM, you can do your graduation in PCM. Then, join Goa University M.Sc. / PhD program in geology, mineralogy, petrology, remote sensing, GIS, petroleum geology, groundwater, environmental mining and statistical geology.
www. unigoa.ac.in/department.php?adepid=11
Outside Goa:
Shivaji University, Vidyanagar, Kolhapur. (Offers Geochemistry also)
University of Pune, Ganeshkhind, Pune.
University of Bombay, MG Road, Fort, Mumbai. (Offers Geochemistry and Geophysics)
University of Mysore, Crawford Hall, Mysore.
Karnataka University, Pavate Nagar, Dharwad.
Bangalore University, Jnana Bharati, Bengaluru.
Specialized courses are offered by Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur. After XII (with PCM), IIT Kharagpur, admits students through JEE to 5 year Integrated programme in Exploration Geophysics. After B.Tech/BE/MSc. and Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), admission is made to the 3 semester M. Tech. program in Geology and Geophysics.
Employment Avenues:
Geologists work in Oil Companies such as Reliance, BP, Environmental consulting companies, Offshore companies both in India and abroad, and government companies, viz. ONGC, Coal India, Mineral Foundation of Goa, Sesa Goa, Universities, etc.
Monies:
Smart monies, both in Rupees and Dollars.
Please do not be satisfied with just acquiring a Degree/Diploma – try and enhance your CV by doing online learning programs (with a certificate) of programs relevant to your choice of career. Your chances of employment will be much better than just a plain degree/diploma.
Please check this website under other details for places you can learn online. Also try and develop your confidence by doing a public speaking training program with people like Toast Masters International.
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