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Early Beginnings
Like all natural sciences, geology
found its true beginnings as a direct
result of the Renaissance. In the 16th
century DaVinci recognized the marine
origin of fossils and Agricola published
a treatise on mining and mineralogy.
In the 17th century Steno produced the
stratigraphic law of superposition and
principles of original horizontality and
lateral continuity. A strong focus on
descriptive geology had begun.
During the 18th century the economic
demand for mining further drove the
need for geologic knowledge. This culminated toward the end of the century
in the development of geologic mapping
by William Smith. James Hutton (often
called the father of modern geology)
was one of the first to consider geologic
origins. His theory of Earths evolution,
printed in 1788, was referred to as
Plutonism. Hutton believed that Earths
processes were gradual and involved
volcanic activity, erosion, deposition and
solidification by heat. His ideas were in
direct contrast with the Neptunists, who
believed that the rocks were precipitated
from seawater, and the Diluvialists who
believed that they were deposited as
the result of Noahs flood, or the Great
Deluge. The rift between Biblical faith
and geology as a science widened as an
Uniformitariansm vs
Catastrophism
The 19th century, driven by the
Industrial Revolution and the steam
engines hunger for coal, saw an explosion in the natural sciences and the emergence of geology as a genuine discipline.
Vast gains in descriptive geology were
made, resulting in detailed stratigraphy and the identification of cyclicity or
recurrence of geologic events. Many saw
these as great upheavals of the earth or
catastrophes. The publication of Lyells
three-volume work, Principles of Geology,
further developed Huttons ideas into
the concept of Uniformitarianism, a
theory that heavily influenced Darwins
research, and was in direct conflict with
Catastrophism. Uniformitarianism is
as important to the geologic sciences
today as evolution by natural selection
is to the biologic sciences.
Along with great advances in physics, chemistry and biology, the second
half of the 19th century saw the science
of geology diversify into sub-disciplines
such as stratigraphy, paleontology, mineralogy, geomorphology, vulcanology,
glacial geology and, by the end of the
century, petroleum geology. Many of the
early academicians of geology had their
beginnings in other disciplines such as
medicine, botany, geography and chemistry. University geology departments
emerged and grew. Geology, for a while,
became a general part of high school science curricula.
A Mechanism Dilemma
Drawing on discoveries in physics
and chemistry, the first half of the 20th
century saw great strides in geology.
Breakthroughs in radiometric age dating extended the age of the Earth to
Geology 2013
was 6 to 8 weeks long and its selection
was limited to a few major universities.
So, as a student, you had to plan ahead,
both academically and financially, and
you still do.
A Revolution in
Geology
Catastrophe Strikes
Geology
www.aipg.org
Geology 2013
Earth Systems Science
Geology has always been interdisciplinary. It draws from the basic sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology).
Earths natural systems, rock formation,
the oceans, the atmosphere, and the
evolution of life are inextricably linked.
Many geoscience endeavors therefore
require a collaborative interdisciplinary
effort utilizing any number of geologists,
structural geologists, sedimentologists,
geophysicists, geochemists, geobiologists, biogeochemists, paleontologists,
volcanologists, astrobiologists, paleobotanists, paleoclimatologists, palynologists, marine biologists, oceanographers,
atmospheric physicists, glaciologists,
etc. Its never been just about rocks.
Many departments have struggled to
find ways to attract students. Geology
departments need a critical mass of
professors from various subdisciplines
to maintain both viable undergraduate
and graduate programs. Those programs
are mutually beneficial in attracting
sufficient numbers of undergraduate
students to help sustain the critical
mass. Departments have had to become
creative. Some have even shared faculty
and facilities such as geology and engineering to sustain geohydrology, engineering geology, environmental geology
and other programs. Other departments
have looked for specialty niches and
have formed centers of excellence to
build upon their strengths to maintain graduate programs such as global
tectonics, paleontology, astrobiology,
etc. Many no longer call themselves
Geology Departments and have adopted broader names: Geological Sciences,
Earth Sciences, Geosciences, Earth
and Atmospheric Sciences, Planetary
Sciences and the like. Many are integrating an Earth Systems Science approach
to their curricula, which focuses heavily
on physical, chemical and biologic processes of the geosphere. Some universities have recently combined faculty from
the geosciences, geography and anthropology departments to form centers of
excellence to address the Anthropocene.
Building Competency
AIPG needs to play a stronger role
in strengthening the competency of the
profession from the bottom up. This can
Geology 2013
be done effectively by sponsoring and/or
working with student chapters, as has
been done in the past. Individual members should also get to know the faculty
in their area and avail themselves as a
local resource. Members should make
it clear to students and faculty what
skills will be expected of them in the
work force and encourage attainment of
advanced degrees. Members also need to
be heavily involved with their Human
Resources Departments in the advertising, screening, interviewing, selection
and reviewing of candidates. A solid
review of candidate letters and transcripts, phone calls to references, and
detailed interviews will, in most cases,
reveal a potential candidates shortcomings. Members also need to become effective mentors to their junior employees
and to be sure that those employees
receive the additional training and education to keep them competent.
Maintaining Ethics
Geologists have a tendency to be independent thinkers. Thats good, as long
as the thinking remains scientifically
based and unbiased. Most geologic organizations share members from a broad
spectrum of subdisciplines, and AIPG is
not that much different. However, those
other technical organizations have a
greater degree of focus on transferring of
geologic knowledge, whereas AIPG has
a focus on strengthening and promoting the practice of geology. Members of
AIPG work in a broad arena of applied
geology. The interests of their employers,
as well as members personal interests
are often in conflict with others in the
profession. To maintain a constructive
atmosphere in which AIPG will grow
with the times and attract more members will require strict adherence to
the AIPG Code of Ethics (COE). COE
Standard 2.4 states members should
promote public awareness of the effects
of geology and geological processes on the
quality of life. Members need to understand that exercising this Standard also
implies adherence to all of the Rules
under COE Standard 2.2 which states
members should be accurate, truthful
and candid with all communications
with the public. Publicly straying out of
ones area of technical competency could
violate one of these standards, and damage the credibility of AIPG. The future
of geology will continue to get more complex and provide more opportunities for
professional geologists. To be successful
AIPG must be open to that complexity.
www.aipg.org
References:
Agricola, G., 1546, The Structure of the
Earth and the Forces Which Change
the Earth, from A Source Book in
Geology, 1400-1900, Mather, K.F.,
and Mason, S.L. Eds., Harvard. U.
Press, Cambridge, MA, p. 7-11.
Benton, M.J., 2003, When Life Nearly
Died, Thames & Hudson, London,
336 pp.
Clegg, B., 2003, The First Scientist,
Carroll & Graf, Publ., New York,
244 pp.
Cutler, A., 2003, The Seashell on the
Mountaintop, Dutton, New York,
228 pp.
AIPG History
Acting Executive
Director
Edward Bud Rue, CPG 12