Matt Lindsay,
Associate Professor
This new program will complement the existing B.Sc. programs in geology, geophysics and palaeobiology and will provide new opportunities for undergraduate geoscience education at the U of S.
It has consulted with APEGS to ensure all graduates of this new program will have the opportunity to meet with APEGS’ knowledge requirements for P.Geo. licensure.
Environmental geoscience is the scientific study of relationships between earth processes, human activities and the environment.
Consequently, environmental geoscientists integrate knowledge of physical, chemical and biological aspects of the earth system to investigate how geological processes have influenced the environment over geologic time.
They also study environmental impacts of human activities, including extraction of energy and mineral resources and investigate ways to minimize these impacts.
Environmental geoscience is one of three academic streams assessed for P.Geo. licensure with APEGS and the only category not currently covered by a B.Sc. program offered through the U of S Department of Geological Sciences.
Similar to the B.Sc. programs in geology and geophysics, students in this new program will develop a strong foundation in core geoscience topics including structural geology, mineralogy, geochemistry and sedimentology.
Additional coursework in the areas of geochemistry, mineralogy, hydrogeology and geomicrobiology, plus an environmental geoscience-specific field school, will provide graduates with knowledge required to succeed as practising environmental geoscientists.
The new program will also emphasize quantitative skills, which are increasingly critical in all geoscience disciplines.
The new program will allow students to pursue options that were previously available through the B.Sc. in Environmental Earth Sciences (EES) program offered by the Department of Geography and Planning.
Starting in May 2020, the EES program will be transformed into a new B.Sc. in Hydrology program. Minors in geomatics, water science and chemistry that are popular with students in the geology and EES programs will remain options in the new Environmental Geoscience program.
It is anticipated that graduates of the new program will have wide-ranging employment opportunities in both the private and public sector.
Growth of job opportunities in environmental geoscience with resource companies, consulting firms and governmental agencies will continue with increased emphasis on environmental management and land reclamation in the mining and energy sectors.
These factors make the new B.Sc. in Environmental Geoscience program an option for students with interests in geoscience and the environment.
For additional information on this program, visit https://artsandscience.usask.ca/geology or contact the program Faculty Advisor, Dr. Matthew Lindsay matt.lindsay@usask.ca.