What makes a good Geologist?: A compilation of feedback.

I want to start this article with the immediate disclaimer that I do not purport to know what makes the perfect geologist. However, by analysing the feedback given when asking the question, "what makes a good geologist?", one starts to pick up skills that are universally identified as being beneficial to becoming at the least, an acceptable geologist. People asked for this feedback included geologists at different levels (student to veteran), and professionals geologists regularly work alongside.

If you are reading this article then this should be known, but just in case background is needed, here it is. Geo's are earth scientists. They study the earth's composition, structure, and its journey from the past to the now. You can find Geo's in multiple environments including government agencies, the private sector, and academia for those who never want to leave school or have a passion for teaching. You will find Geo's in the field, mapping and collecting samples, then conducting experiments to better understand the earth's processes. Some live in the labs and analyse samples and data to uncover the earth's history. Then you also get office Geo's, who use their knowledge of geology to give direction to projects related to natural resource exploration, environmental protection, and other issues. All this to say geologists are diverse, and their activities are dependent on specific job responsibilities.

Several qualities are important for a good geologist to have. The importance of the different qualities I will discuss is highly dependent on the profession the Geo is in. At a minimum, good Geo's need a strong background in the natural sciences, particularly in geology, chemistry, physics, and even biology (think rocks with plant and animal remains). Good Geo's also have strong analytical (use logic to analyse a situation) and critical thinking skills (make reasoned judgments that are well thought out). Unless you are coding geology genius, Geo's hardly work alone so they need excellent communication and interpersonal skills. A good Geo can work independently when required but also performs well as part of a team. A good Geo can thrive in an airconditioned office, and in 40+ degrees in the middle of a mine pit. That is to say, physical fitness and a healthy body and mind are also important qualities.

Geo's often work closely with other professionals such as engineers, surveyors, and environmental scientists. It is important for a Geo to have some understanding of these disciplines. Furthermore, Geo's regularly work with complex computer software and technology to analyse and interpret data. Strong computer skills are useful, as well as an inquisitive nature so these programs are not left alone to become black boxes leaving the Geo with no understanding of their internal logic. Good Geo's document their processes so one must know how to write good technical reports, and over and above this be able to present their work to groups of people. Yes, that dreaded public speaking is important too.

So now we have done the work and acquired many of these skills, how will they serve us in the future? Geology is constantly evolving. One driver that will certainly play a role is the introduction of advanced technologies, such as drones, hyperspectral scanners, and other remote sensing tools, to collect and analyze data. Interdisciplinary connectedness keeps increasing and cross-discipline knowledge is becoming key. Good Geo's will need to understand areas such as environmental science, engineering, and computer science. The focus on climate change is not going anywhere, Geo's will have a role to play and that will mean understanding the principles of sustainability. That sustainability mindset will need to result in geology projects that align with and support sustainable development.

This is a brain dump to help me process some of the findings I got by asking a few questions. I will be using it to identify the gaps I need to cover to become a better geologist, and hopefully, it can help you too. Please share your thoughts...