5. Earth and Space

Planet Earth – just one of eight planets in our solar system, but how much do you really know about it? Do natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanoes rock your world or are you more into discovering whether or not there really is life on Mars? Check out the career examples here to find out if you really have got what it takes to master the Universe.

	Example work areas	Knowledge/skills required	Why?
Seismologist	research, monitoring earthquake regions, quake-resistant building design, mineral and oil prospecting	geology, properties of materials, sound and shock-waves, energy transfer, forces, vibration detection and recording instruments, data analyses	To study and explain earth tremors and mitigate their effects; and to locate underground rock strata where oil or minerals may be
Archaeologist	fieldwork (‘digs’), laboratory investigation, museums (interpretation), media presentation	geophysics (site / artefact location), artefact recovery and treatment, material identification, dating techniques, preservation methods, past technologies	To identify and interpret items, and disseminate information
Climatologist	climate change and modelling, indices (e.g. El Niño), hurricane research, drought mitigation, polar research	meteorology, hydrology, ecology, oceanography, data processing and analysis	To study long-term climate trends and attempt predictions of future changes, and suggest ways of mitigating their effects
Satellite/space probe designer	telecommunications, weather observation, military monitoring, astronomy, space exploration	material properties under extreme conditions, forces, electronics, communications technology, optics, sensors across the electromagnetic spectrum, power systems	To design compact, reliable equipment that can survive the forces of launch and conditions in space
Astronomer/astrophysicist	optical and radio telescopes (land-based and in space), radio interferometry	detection of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, data processing and interpretation	To deduce the nature of the Universe, its contents and processes occurring within it

 

Is there a future career here for you?

To see the full list of career examples download the document below.