Top 5 Geology Myths / What It Really Means to Be a Geologist | GEO GIRL

[@tedetienne7639]

Amusing coincidence - I got the notification for this video just as I was setting aside my usual geology work to go look at some rocks. As a geologist, I spend most of my time examining risks to drinking water sources - involving chemical, biological, environmental, and groundwater hydrology concerns (and is very relevant to everyday life, if you like clean water!). Then someone else in my company asked me to review some geophysical rock cores, which I always consider a fun diversion, getting back to my roots. Yes, that’s right - rocks are only an enjoyable side quest to what I normally do in geology!

[@xelaxander]

Love those little side quests. Stuff that can be finished in an afternoon, but still gives enough satisfaction to worth pursuing.

[@j.liessmannvantine7277]

1:23 1:25

[@dukecity7688]

I'm 71. If I had a chance to go back in time. I would definitely have studied Geology. It's endlessly fascinating. You are awesome. The cheap shot about Geology is based firmly in ignorance. Thanks Geo Girl. I know how hard you worked to get your degree.

[@gilles111]

You still can, you're never too old to learn new things. Maybe you won't go to any college or university but there are many courses online available. Even free (mini) courses from uni's from all over the world. Google for edX and see what's there. I'm 51 and started last year on a study Volcanology. And I can tell you, I'm not the oldest person in the course.

[@elaneduncan4035]

me too! 3rd grade I wanted to study geology . Wish my parents had boosted my interest

[@myroncook]

This was a needed discussion and you did a great job!

[@daveb1177]

I subscribe to this channel and you too Myron and to a couple other channels on geology. I have to say you geology communicators are really doing a fantastic job. I never took a geology class or even had much interest in the subject but since watching your videos I find geology fascinating. Keep up the good work.

[@santoshr2984]

A comment from Myron means you are absolutely right.

[@PlayNowWorkLater]

Myron approved!

[@GEOGIRL]

Thanks so much @myroncook! That means a lot coming from you! :) Thanks for all that you do in terms of geo communication as well!

[@toastyburger]

Your videos are proof that geology covers many important fields. As a science nerd, I enjoy seeing how diverse disciplines come together in your videos, from chemistry and biology to quantum physics and cosmology.

[@dancooper8551]

An excellent and much needed video. I was rather shocked to learn that enrollment in geology degree programs was down so significantly. I assumed the opposite was true.

Geology Rocks AND Rolls! Can't wait for my shirt to get in. For what it's worth, I'm a mathematician, and I absolutely think of you as my intellectual superior. Anybody who thinks Geology is an easy study reveals more about themselves than about Geology.

[@GEOGIRL]

Thank you so much! I appreciate the support, and I agree about the people that say that! :)

[@joecanales9631]

Howdy Rachel, excellent video. I had some of those misconceptions as I was planning my choice of college degree. I would have to agree that geology is at the root of the geosciences. I kept thinking meteorology, volcanology, seismology, etc were branches of geophysics but realized that the vast majority of geophysicists started with a BS degree in geology. My BS degree is in geophysics, which is why I always felt I needed more basic geology (ie field trips).

[@HoboMinerals]

Geology is the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to learn… I’m lacking in most the other backgrounds, so it’s super hard for me to understand it… You are amazing, and I’m so glad there’s people like you who are trying to help others understand rocks! Thank you!!

[@barbaradurfee645]

Well done Rachel, One under-marketed aspect of earth science is that it is evolving to be more interedisciplinary that other science majors because an earth scientists can't avoid integrating biology, chemistry or physics into any earth/planetary analysis. For a lot of science oriented kids, the idea of not pigeonholing themselves into one discipline is attractive and so earth science is where they can find a satisfying/challenging blend of issues to study. Also, every time biology, chemistry, physics, instrumentation, computation, etc. make advances, earth scientists get to go back over old ideas and rethink them with new tools. This regular turnover of ideas/understanding generates new investment opportunities. It would be handy to see an summary of new businesses that have evolved or become more useful/valuable because of advances in some ascpect of earth science. I wish NSF would fund someone to canvas a wide range of industries and catalog how earth and environmental sciences influences them and what aspect of datagathering or analysis is used/invested in by those industries.

[@SalivatingSteve]

I feel like most environmental science programs are too integrated with the policy side of things.

[@JennieKermode]

Studying geology in high school (because it was the only way I could get to do four sciences) enabled me to identify lumps of calcium building up in my skin, leading to the diagnosis of my autoimmune disease, and that's why I'm still alive. Knowledge is a good thing.

[@toweypat]

Oh, wow. Good job!

[@jamesmundie3485]

My degree subject was physics, University of Nottingham, 1975-78. Fast forward many years to a quiz in a bar - one of the questions was "what is PETROLOGY?". My answer was: study of oil-bearing rocks. I learned that day that it (petrology) is the study of rocks in general. I knew that petroleum means rock-oil. Here in Britain we use the word "petrol" where Americans say "gasoline" or just "gas". I realise that I'm not the first commenter to throw in the word petrology, and another commenter suggested "lithology". Still loving your content. Rock on Geo Girl.

[@sjoer]

This is true for many other fields as well! I studied information technology, electronics and game design... finished neither of them, but it is not like I never learned anything from those studies! Being schooled in multiple fields, like you apply with geology, seems to be very much underrated.

[@mikeclarke952]

I'm an electronic technologist and work at a Chem Eng department as the Instrumentation and computer tech. Our 4th year UGs have a mandatory Capstone project to complete and I'm often involved helping with data collection (DAQs, sensors, programming, etc.). One such project was a local stream water quality study and involved 4th yr students from chemistry and geology departments. Geology is great and requires a diverse understanding of many scientific studies, besides we could use more pretty geologists. I mean Shawn Willsey is not bad to look at but doesn't hold a candle to you GEO Girl. Thanks for the channel. PS I'll also add we probably can't build huge heavy buildings (skyscrapers, dams, etc.) without calling in a geologist to assess the bed rock and determine if the ground can support the weight.

[@thelostone6981]

Misconception #1: Many years ago, I lived in Micronesia and took a marine biology class at the local community college. One of the lectures was on the rock islands of Palau and wouldn’t ya know it? They use to be a living organism (coral) that mineralized over thousand of years as the sea levels dropped during the last ice age…. So I die a little bit too when someone thinks it’s just rocks! One of the most beautiful places on earth was created by marine biology!

[@cafiend]

I loved my intro to geology class. It was in 1975 at the University of Florida. The prof, Dr Pierce, had some hilarious stories about field work. He also had some very pointed observations about what he called the lack of “preventive geology” in development of human infrastructure. The decades since have shown how he was right and how the concept continues to be ignored. I shied away from going further in geology because I’m not good at math and had not done well chemistry. But “I’m a great fan of science.”

[@geojak0]

I like it. One day I’ll share this with my daughter perhaps. I’m a geologist and she says she doesn’t want to be a geologist. But she’s planning on going to Southampton to study Environmental science. I’ve not broken it to her that it’s just surficial geology. To top it off she says she doesn’t want to sit behind a computer all day. Haha! Sounds like a geology student to me!

[@JillZwerd]

Same situation here. My dad was a Geologist and I didn't want to do exactly what he did/thought is was rocks/wanted to focus on Climate Change so I did Environmental Science. Huge mistake. When I graduated all the Environmental Science jobs wanted a Geology major. Went a different direction, but often consider going back for a Geology Masters.

[@konstantink614]

I found a good way for me to answer that: I am not particularly fond of rocks themselves, but i am fascinated by the dynamics of the system that produces these rocks, which rocks can tell a fascinating story about.

[@CassandraDorwart]

My daughter graduated with a GeoSciences degree just last Saturday from Lock Haven University( PA ). So proud of her! AND, she already got a job using her degree and is about to move to Myrtle Beach, SC, to work for a water treatment facility! Thank you so much for posting this video! I’m definitely gonna suggest my daughter subscribes 😊

[@laletemanolete]

I was the one who said "who is going to argue with the PhD in geology"!!!!!

[@GEOGIRL]

Thank you for backing me up!

[@laletemanolete]

@@GEOGIRL scientists should support scientists

[@tonydagostino6158]

When I was an undergrad I worked summers at Mars Candy in Chicago. One job I did was to move boxes and cases of candy bars from one conveyor belt to another at a point in the production line. One of the long term employees asked me what I was studying. When I answered "geology" she thought about it for a bit and then asked, "when you get a job will you be looking at rocks on a belt"? I have to admit, there was a long sigh that preceded my answer.

[@glenecollins]

I have been a geologist for ~20 years and I have never worked near a mining conveyor belt and I would really like to keep it that way. I haven’t spent much of that time as a mine geologist but looking at the rocks on the conveyor belt seems a bit late

[@tonydagostino6158]

@@glenecollins Her world view was extremely narrow

[@glenecollins]

@@tonydagostino6158 having thought about it when I am working as a rig geologist and the drillers are really cranky out the meters a conveyor belt would probably be handy. If we could sell exploration companies on the idea (especially when air coring through deep regolith and they are cranking out an 80m hole every hour) her idea of the industry could save the sanity (or at least will to live) of a lot of young geologists. There are some oil and gas rigs and continuous drilling rigs that do have generally a very wet very short version of a conveyor because it would be near impossible to move the amount of material they produce by hand at the speed they pump it out and I think the geologists look at the bigger chips that make it along the system. But here at least you would have to get at least a masters in sedimentology to work on one of those beasts unless one of the coal bed methane companies is feeling rich enough to drill very wide deep holes but not rich enough to get a sedimentologist (I worked on one of those projects but my rig just had a shaker that was under the return and I got a fine mesh strainer taped to a broom handle to get my samples.

[@Dave9303]

This is great! I started studying Environmental Sustainability at University in September 2023. Before then I never really thought about rocks and/or minerals. I can indeed confirm it is REALLY hard and very true you need other Sciences to go hand in hand with geology! It's still my first year and I can confirm it's the most challenging part of the course by miles! but also the most interesting part & will definitely be pursuing it 😁

[@karinaibanez6340]

Love this video! We also need geologists to help us build a more sustainable future, especially with more sustainable mining practices and in the energy transition. And besides geology is interconnected with everything in our urban daily lives, it is also everywhere in our amazing and diverse landscapes that everyone appreciates. Not only are these landscapes amazingly beautiful, but they also form the basis for all biodiversity and serve as records of Earth's history. How amazing is that? As a researcher in the emerging field of Geoconservation and Geoheritage, I find it incredible how many different things and approaches we can explore and work on as geologists!

[@tarantulapettingzoo2980]

You’re the least toxic KZbin personality. I heart you. Thank you for what you do.

[@GEOGIRL]

Thank you so much

[@pansepot1490]

Sorry if I missed it but I think you forgot geology as necessary preliminary for any (major) construction work. I live in a seismic area and local authorities require a geological assessment before giving building permission. Geologist came with a drilling truck and took some core. And afaik similarly geologic assessment is required for any big building (awa bridges, roads, dams, etc.) to make sure the foundation is on stable ground. Geologists are as necessary as engineers, doctors and lawyers.

[@GEOGIRL]

Absolutely! Thanks for pointing this out! :D

[@cerealport2726]

When I was doing my research project at university in Australia, I was mapping (technically re-mapping) some outcrop on a hillside which happened to have a really nice view of the city below. It was not far from a road, so people would show up to admire the view, and more than one asked me why I was looking at "boring old rocks" instead of the view. I'd be lying if I said I had an amazing speech lined up to educate people on the wonders of the Neoproterozoic geology of the local area. I just said I am a geologist and I'm working on a research project...

[@cerealport2726]

Sadly the interest in studying geosciences has plummeted in Australia too. University student numbers have always been boom-and-bust, lagging slightly, but tracking the general trend of the Aussie mining/energy industry. I know more than one oil and gas geologist who has spent time as a taxi driver during an industry downturn, only to be in high demand a couple of years later.

[@robertneal4244]

I am a amateur rock and crystal collector and have several books on the subject. I thought I knew most of the mineral combinations, but I learn about new ones (new to me anyway) about once a week. This will probably continue until I die.

[@TagiukGold]

I'm glad to hear you confirm multiple times in this video that geology definitely includes licking rocks.

[@takashitamagawa5881]

Excellent and highly informative video. Among the many salient points made here no one should forget that geology is a matter of life and death in several ways, one of the most critical involving the subfield of seismology - earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and so on. When one thinks of the population density along the so-called "Ring of Fire" the implications of NOT studying geology are truly frightening. Earth science can be applied to extra-planetary studies for sure, but it works both ways. Study of other worlds can give insight and information about our own world. In recent decades this has been particularly true with regard to the Moon, Mars, and to a lesser extent Venus. The last Apollo landing, Apollo 17, carried geologist Harrison Schmitt to the lunar surface. While the Apollo missions are often viewed now as just a prodigious expenditure of national resources in a Cold War campaign the geologists recognize its scientific contributions.

[@Kroogles]

It's really neat that you put in the effort you do for these videos on top of teaching and whatever else you've got on. I know I'm not alone when I say I appreciate it and I wish you great success on all fronts.

[@GEOGIRL]

Thank you so much! That really means a lot

[@kaijen2688]

Nice to hear someone explain why geologists are so well rounded in science. I graduated back in the 80's and went into computers.

[@shawnwalker9551]

You're the best, Geo Girl! Hope you're loving SC😊

[@dario3424]

In my Biodiversity and Technological Innovation course, one of the first-year subjects is Physical Geography and GIS lab. I initially thought we'd just cover rocks, but the professor kicked things off with solar, lunar, and terrestrial motions (Keplero's laws and so on). Now, we've moved on to the basics of meteorology, volcanology, cartography, and so much more-a field as vast as biology, with both botany and zoology included in my course. Greetings from a future Biologist/Geologist (yes, dual title degree). P.S. I'm also studying oceanography, a beautiful yet highly complex subject (fluid mechanics, turbulence, Navier-Stokes equations, etc.)

[@stevenbaumann8692]

Thank you for this!!!!! It's one of your best! Whoever said a geology degree was easy, never attempted to do the major. You did leave out the PG part. Not a big deal but it is a recognized profession like engineering.

[@leilanijohnson4465]

Thank you for this! I am considering changing my major from Psychology to Geology and this cleared up a lot. I am so excited to learn more about the field!

[@GEOGIRL]

I hope you do and I hope you enjoy it! Don't get too scared with the minerology and petrology requirements (those courses scare some students off, but they are not too bad and you don't have to go into those specific fields!). I haven't used much of anything I learned in those classes for any of my actual research haha ;) Anyway, you will have a blast! It is so much fun ;D Let me know if you have any questions along your geo journey :)

[@leilanijohnson4465]

@@GEOGIRL Thank you so much! :)

[@jimthain8777]

As a person in their mid 50s, I'm probably too old to go into this (there's also the fact that my long ago high schooling was geared to me not attending higher education.) (There's a good chance I'm ADHD, and that would have caused serious problems in any education.) That doesn't mean I don't like learning. I very much do, but I have to learn what I'm interested in, and at my own erratic pace. However, your obvious enthusiasm for your chosen field is very infectious, and If I was younger and didn't have these issues, I probably would sign up. It's definitely an interesting field. (By the way what led me to you was my fascination with volcanoes. I actually have the book Volcanoes of North America which I can't find to confirm the title.) I got it to find out more about volcanoes in BC where I live. This interest has led me to geology videos, of which I find yours to be some of the best. Thank you for everything you do, and I hope you can encourage more young people to enter what is clearly a very interesting field.

[@TheDanEdwards]

Regarding drops in student numbers in geology fields - that has happened in other science fields too. Some disciplines have seen this decline for quite some time now. It's a phenomenon in our society that is rarely discussed. It seems the louder politicians bang on the "STEM" kettle the less popular actual science degrees become.

[@GEOGIRL]

True, but when comparing the other STEM fields (at least math, engineering, biology, physics, and chemistry) to geology from 2016 to 2020 geology is decreasing by a much greater extent in both enrollment and degree completions (at least in the U.S.) based on data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)-- I am working on a paper that will have a figure showing this difference and hopefully be published in the next year. Once it is, I'll send you guys the link so you can check it out ;)

[@TheDanEdwards]

​@@GEOGIRL One of the direct effects of dropping enrollments is the closing of departments at colleges, usually by mergers. Additionally, now there is an overall decline in students, part of the large demographic changes here in the US with an aging population. Look forward to your paper when you complete.

[@jessegraham2501]

Little shout out to geotechnical engineering here as a much in demand field. Applying engineering concepts to geology and geologic concepts to engineering has been an incredibly fulfilling career for me. Really shocked at how many people have never heard of this field and how small graduating classes are in the past few years. We need to increase awareness for earth science career paths starting in the high school level. Great video!

[@shawnwillsey]

Applause and kudos from me. Well done, Rachel.

[@GEOGIRL]

Thanks Shawn! :D

[@justynamajewska3449]

Thank you! I'm studying 2nd year of Bsc Geology. I dont know why but I was thinking that there will be no job for me if I did not have experience. Thank You for staying me motivated

[@PlayNowWorkLater]

My favourite area of Geology that is very current is the Geomorphology and Seismology, specifically the exploration through ever-growing and developing ability to peer into the centre of the earth with Tomography. Checking out the subducting plates and then the ones that have broken off and are still sinking towards the core. So cool! And the work they are doing with that information to make more accurate maps of past Tectonic activity. I frigging love it! Such a nerd. Zentnerd actually! Maybe a bit of GeoGirlNerd. That name needs some work

[@leechild4655]

Looking into geology helped me understand how life was possible. Life precipitated from the natural processes this planet affords. Amazing realization.

[@rickmoore52]

Excellent material and excellent teaching. I am so hooked on your videos. So many questions I have are getting answered. Thank you for your hard work and clear explanations.

[@gabygomezcarett6774]

Finally a video to shut up Sheldon! I'm Geophysical Engineer but I realized finishing the career that I didn't like it, so I went through the Geology, in fact, I have 23 years of experience in Oil and Gas industry as Geologist!! But with my background in Geophysics and as Engineer I could do more things (I think). I really loved your video about Geology. Still there are a lot of people out here that has no clue what that means. Now I want to learn about environmental Geology, it is a specialty that has a huge demand nowadays... there is always something else to learn in this beautiful science!

[@gkcadadr]

it’s really weird to think that especially people with experience in research would say any discipline is “done”, given how little we know in any field. i have recently defended my ma thesis in linguistics and am in the process of moving on to history, and one of the most fascinating outcomes of this process for me was to learn just how little we know about even something like language, something we use literally every day. for examples we don’t really know what word stress really is. we haven’t yet managed to pin down the acoustics and phonetics of something so elementary to something we do mindlessly every day. and to imagine people who should know better can say, something as complex as an entire field like geology is “done”, it’s frankly pure arrogance. and for other folk, i guess it is the failure of sci comm and k12-undergrad schooling, cos we keep talking to kids and youngsters about science as if it was just an ever-accumulating encyclopaedia of facts

[@matsciguy-l9h]

Excellent topic, excellent explanation. I've had my own field referred to as tinkering. Oh boy, here we go again.

[@LuisAldamiz]

Fun trivia: Gaia (root of geo-) read in Basque translates as (1) the matter (in both meanings: the substance and the theme) and (2) the capability or potential. I'm pretty sure it's not a coincidence but whatever the case it is a fun fact, which hopefully helps motivate present and future geologists.

[@anticorncob6]

I was listening to this on ear buds without watching the video, and when I heard you say geologists have to understand physics, chemistry, and biology, I thought you were listing a misconception. I was dumbfounded.

[@stuartbruff8786]

As an astrophysics graduate, I was used to similar comments about the subject being very niche. It usually didn’t take long to convince people (including potential employers, fortunately!) that the degree content covered many useful disciplines, such as maths, optics, electronics, maths, computing, nuclear physics, planetary science, and (in case I forgot to mention it) maths. Geology, like astrophysics, is an excellent example of a Systems subject, and systems thinking is possibly the most useful and widely applicable aspect of such subjects. As a kid, I loved geology from the science perspective, but the thing that put me off the subject at secondary school level was the (mis)perception that geology was very much the little and subordinate offspring of geography, the latter being a non-STEM subject that was closely allied to economics, history, politics and sociology … and Mad Geographers are nowhere near as cool as Mad Scientists. 😈 Still, thanks to one Albert Einstein, at least no ever considered astrophysics a jock subject. ;-)

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

Astronomers usually don't have anything to do with "rocket science" or astrology. We also don't spend all of our time looking through a telescope & professional astronomers aren't really that likely to own their own personal telescope. We get lots of questions about UFOs & aliens or about black holes (regardless of our actual field of study). I feel your pain.

[@rgromes]

So geology is about rocks - but rocks in context, lots and lots of exciting and important context!

[@enahoroasije5640]

Thanks

[@meesalikeu]

hiya doc - can you do a video for us about the Ediacaran Period? its in the news lately because there us a new study about how the magnetic field dipped for some reason. sounds interesting. gracias. 🎉

[@francinasaiz4596]

I think that nowadays we are so disconnected from nature in so many ways, which is partially why geology is becoming less and less popular. She accurately points this out: we forget where our phones, cars, and refrigerators come from. We forget what powers the planes we take on vacation. We overlook why we can safely drink tap water, or why countries have laws against building near rivers prone to frequent flooding. We also forget why some cities need seismic-resistant buildings. We get surprised every time we go to the beach, and sometimes there's less space in the sand to put the towel. We don't understand what Mars rovers are actually doing. When a “natural disaster” occurs, we get surprised over and over again, even though many of these events are simply frequent natural processes. Geology studies and provides valuable information for all of that and more. This is what happens when we live out of touch with nature. Respon

[@cavetroll666]

cheers from Canada i was just hiking in a place that rocks up here its called Killarney and the white quartz mountains here are really old

[@nolanpeters5462]

The english nerd in me is so bothered by the choice of misperception. "Here's the top 5 Misconceptions about Geology that you might have" "Here's the top 5 misperceptions about me" feels like a weird implication

[@shadeen3604]

Yes excellent video Dr Geo girl thank you geologst can work in gemmological labs also

[@basilbrushbooshieboosh5302]

Another one to show my students. Thanks GG

[@willythemailboy2]

Perhaps some perspective on the "rocks for jocks" mentality: I worked at a university where taking two laboratory science classes was a requirement for all students to graduate. Since this was the only science most of the students ever saw in their university careers, the four "major" science divisions (biology, chemistry, geology, physics) all offered what was called "service" classes for people who had minimal to no background in science and had no interest in advancing beyond the bare minimum required of them. These were one semester classes taught at essentially the high school freshman level, and the geology class focused heavily on mineral formation and identification. It was also considered to be the easiest of the four subjects which meant it saw the greatest enrollment, followed by biology, physics, and chemistry in that order. Even as the service class with the lowest enrollment, the chemistry class generally saw more students taking that class than every other class offered by the chemistry department combined.

[@k4x4map46]

was a biochem major....things got real difficult at the ochem level...switched to geology major and laaaawdeee not only was it seemingly more difficult...the best thing was I learned how to study=work harder...having awesome study groups/partners definitely helped realign my study habits; yes most intro classes are easy geo101 but it ends there. just did a google inquiry where one commenter stated a geology major requires sooo much of your time outside of class (field trips etc)...wouldn't trade the time or valuable re-learning of myself and potential with hardwork (study) and again, excellent study groups/partners...always wonder how this acquired skill set would my biochem results might be---then statics entered my life, in the summer--who the heck though statics had anything to do with economics!!! now that was a workout but with previous real studying experience...sheeeeet, full semester for this bud if had to do again!! hardwork

[@michaeleisenberg7867]

Rachel 🚴, What's the geology 🏔️ of that rock you were sitting 🪑 on in misconception #2. It reminds me of the balanced boulders 🪨🪨 near Phoenix. Thank you for sharing about geology degrees. Your bulb 🧠 burns brightly💡!

[@OmirinOluwafemiDaniel]

Maybe if there's a means to reach out to many undergraduate students, many of us can dive into the field with this understanding and awareness.

[@obiwankenobi2520]

I’d love to, but I’m two years into my undergrad and can’t afford to change majors. It’s so interesting to me, I just wish I knew more two years ago

[@GEOGIRL]

I switched to geology my third year! it's never too late! ;D

[@Recession2026]

As a geoarchaeologist my dissertation research was studying clays and pottery using petrology, XRD, INAA and XRF. Fortunately, from my experience, geologists like to drink as much as archaeologists.

[@flavio-viana-gomide]

I love to understand how the world is. My undergraduation is in Industrial Engineering. I'm a professor of Logistics in Brazil. Now I'm doing a Master degree on Active Methodologies. When I was 18, I thought Geology were rocks only. I'm from a mining town in Brazil. But I didn't have the idea to search for this. There was no internet at that time. I went to the university. Now I see It's much more interesting. I even went to the automation engineering department to ask some informatiom about what was that kind of undergraduation, but I didn't have the idea to go to the Geology one. I have realized this prejudice against Sciences which doesn't study Mathematics is everywhere. I simply consider it ridiculous. You must ignore those ridiculous people that want to undermine a Science so important for us. I suggest you to create a project to invite local schools to show what Geology really is.

[@knossos574]

I would love to join the field and study the earth and other planets. Here's to hoping that in the future there will be free higher education available to all as part of a society that actually values things other than profits.

[@SalivatingSteve]

5:15 Thank you for saying this! Geology is an interdisciplinary science that combines physics, chemistry, and biology. It’s not all about rocks!

[@Jay-yy9ol]

Hi. Geology question - In the background image of sedimentary strata displayed in the intro, considering bottom to top, the bottom layer is deformed in a big curve. Then it has a thin horizontal “layer”. But on top of that is a big deformed layer. How would that happen over time? I hope my question makes sense. I don’t know the sedimentary terms. Thank you : )

[@neotericrecreant]

Snap Back Doc.! YOU ARE VALID! Personally you've gotten ME way more informed about a variety of things geologically speaking, and in a WAY more interesting way. Every video of yours I watch, I just think, "More people need to see this.". You look real purdy with your nice earrings, just sayin'...

[@GEOGIRL]

Thank you!! This comment really made my day ;)

[@finlandtaipan4454]

Excellent, I agree 100%.

[@georgefspicka5483]

I thought Geology was the study of me : ) Seriously, with me it began with the study of fossils, and my geological knowledge grew along with that. I mean they're so intertwined, how could it be otherwise? About misperception 5, I find learning about new ideas and how they came about, to be absolutely fascinating. There seems to be no end to the flood of papers coming out ...

[@EugenYzugen]

Oil and gas are good enough reasons to study geology even if there were nothing else.

[@mozismobile]

The difference between your "I explain it on youtube and it all seems so simple" and the brick wall of your dissertation that's written for a much more informed audience should be a bit of a give-away. There's a lot of skill in making it seem obvious! (and not everyone has that). I love reading wildly outside my field partly because of that - beating the initial incomprehension is fun. There's a whole new jargon and assumed knowledge before the glorious reveal of what you're actually writing about.

[@rjsonheim8786]

Just finished my 1st year as a geo major 🥳 I love geo very excited 16:12

[@nicholasmaude6906]

The study of rocks, Rachel, I do believe would be called lithology (Lithos is Greek for "Stone" IIRC).

[@stoatystoat174]

Ok , I think this question falls under Geology and you're the only person i can think to ask. Do we have any ideas about the weather on Pangaea? I'm just thinking about how different west coast and east coast weather is. Whether weather comes off the sea or across land has an effect. If a largly westerly wind is going over sea with no interuptions for about (guessing) 3/5 of the Earth circufrence before hitting land, or going over land for 2/5. Anyway just curious, but you don't owe me a damn thing if the ancient weather subject is not for you :)

[@williammcclellan3497]

A world class geological instructor that rocks the universe.

[@nuclearnyanboi]

this video should have come out five years ago. I'm really struggling to get my Physics degree. like reeally struggling. I used to like collecting rocks as a kid, unril Sheldon Cooper who was kinda an idol of mine lol. I am wiser now, but cannot afford to turn back

[@Faish2006]

I'm from India And I am a geology student And I m in undergraduate Thankyou mam for teach me

[@Faish2006]

Tomorrow is my petrology semester exam And I am watching videos here so that I can move ahead in my career. Hey Faishal, go study and see later.😂

[@SCW1060]

I'm happy to have found your channel Geo Girl

[@rursus8354]

People don't understand that rocks (and minerals for that part) have a history, and that history is the real topic.

[@batlrar]

In mild (and I do mean mild!) defense of the phrase "rocks for jocks", each of those parts to the term is slightly more apt than your description here. At least where I went to university, it referred to one very specific class that was a very remedial introductory focusing mainly on the different types of rocks and geodes that one might classify, and it was mainly used by people who wanted to get a science credit even though they know next to nothing about science. The class itself focused mainly on rocks, and there were a lot of people taking it who were more oriented toward hands-on subjects, most of them having actually played sports throughout high school. Also, at least colloquially, not every athlete is a "jock". The term jock has the connotation that the person either doesn't know or doesn't care about anything other than sports and sport-related fields. That all said, I definitely see your qualms with the term and I fully support you deriding it as largely untrue and unfair. I mean, I'm mainly into bats and I hear things like "blind as a bat" or "they're like flying rats" or "bats all have rabies" all the time! It's hard to refute an echo chamber when your own voice isn't loud enough to echo through it all!

[@knossos574]

You go Geogirl!

[@RM-yw6xe]

Most of us get it. Like, when I ask that you show off your rocks, it's not because I have the sense that this is all there is too geology, but because that is where your interest and my (our) interests come together. I (we) are trying to connect with you because we think you're cool. Anyway, I would go as far to say that geology is more involved because it is a crossover field that combines a number of scientific discipline. I think a geologist deserves much more respect than they normally get.

[@punditgi]

But Geo Girl rocks! Isn't that way cool? ❤🎉😊

[@Hellbender8574]

Lack of interest in geosciences (as well as physical science in general) begins earlier than you think, in elementary school. Most elementary school teachers dont feel comfortable or able to teach about these subjects, and teach them well, enthusiastically, and hands-on. Usually fascination with science starts during childhood. You cant love what you dont know.

[@oker59]

I posted in a previous video some latest of my thoughts about phd programs and research. Reading more in Horace Judson, "Eight day of creation" - page 45 has Watson saying more about how students spend so much more time learning everything before they get around to figuring out anything themselves!

[@legendre007]

Even though “geo” is “earth,” I still thought it was about “rocks” because I thought that “earth” in this context meant “the ground.” 😲 The philosopher Empedocles was under the misapprehension that the irreducible material elements were wind, fire, water, and earth. And, by “earth,” Empedocles meant rocks. I apologize for my misconception. 😓

[@Inertia888]

Do geologists have a higher respect for, and more patience with meteorologists, when the 'Weather Man' gets a prediction off by a margin, when attempting to tell everyone what the atmosphere will be doing two or three weeks from now😉

[@GEOGIRL]

Haha I don't know about all geologists, but I certainly am! ;)

[@gneissnicebaby]

"rocks for jocks" annoys me because it implies that to be a geologist you need to be in peak physical condition. Not only is that discriminatory/ablist, it's also just no longer the case. 20-30 years ago, yes, you needed to be physically fit enough to do the vast majority of geology, but today, with the aid of technology and the literal groundwork done by those who came before us, you don't have to be in peak physical condition to be a geologist and, thankfully, that has opened the field up to way more people.

[@danwylie-sears1134]

It never occurred to me that "rocks for jocks" had anything to do with Geology Two-oh-whatever or Geology Three-oh-whatever. It just always meant a class that satisfies a graduation requirement but doesn't teach the subject, same as econ for business majors, or remedial writing. A class to avoid, because you can take a real class in that time slot instead.

[@glenecollins]

At my university geology was considered a subset of the earth and environmental sciences (geology included planetology which I found complicated to explain to people when I was trying to do a masters in it) Biology was by far the biggest group of subjects (by enrolment) even in 3rd year biology courses there were often over 80 students where as 3rd year “geology” classes like mineral systems mineralogy etc had less than 10.

[@TheDanEdwards]

Biology departments tend to have larger numbers because of all the pre-med (or pre-vet) students.

[@glenecollins]

@@TheDanEdwards our department was earth and environmental science (and that is what is on my degree) our dean was an oceanographer we had about 50 undergraduate students doing primarily earth sciences, and about 5,000 doing primarily biology degrees. We had premed courses in our first year biology classes so we had our largest lecture theatres pretty much constantly being used for lectures the same course 6 days a week but the medical guys were in their own department a(unless they were doing biology to try to get into a medical postgraduate course) and 2nd and 3rd year classes were noticeably smaller. The vets pretty much had their own campus while I was there and our biology students and the nursing students went there for anything that was messy and or took up a lot of room (or was a biohazard).

[@nebulan]

Coding geology would be really fun but i only have the coding degree. Can i pair up with someone with a geo degree?

[@vaultbunny7496]

I’m in my mid-late 20s but I’d really love to go back to school and be involved in this field

[@brucewinningham4959]

As an Earth Science, isn't it the Petrology section of Geology that mainly is a Subsection that deals with Rocks?

[@Edgarbopp]

This definitely makes me want to go be a geologist. Wish I’d seen this a long time ago

[@muxpux]

I work at Mt St Helens for the Mt St Helens Institute. We have a weeklong program called “GeoGirls” for middle school girls interested in the geosciences. This will be a good video to play for them. Or it could be an in person presentation. 🤷‍♂️

[@GEOGIRL]

Oh my gosh! How did I miss this comment! Yes, I've known about the GeoGirls program for a while due to Craig Nichol, who I worked with on a workshop for EER one year! Anyway, he told me about the program, and I looked into it and thought it was AMAZING! What an honor to hear from you, I would absolutely love to come give a talk or help in anyway I can with the program if the opportunity ever comes up! :) Just let me know! My email is on my website and on the about section of my channel page ;) Thanks for the comment!

[@michaelmcnally9737]

The Geo in George is the same root. It means farmer

[@archstanton_live]

Geology is not stamp collecting. Without a grounding in physics, one's geologic perceptions are impaired.