The deodorant on the shelf in geologist Eugene
Szymanski's office serves a purpose: insuring that his students can't
tell if he's spent all day in a hot, dusty rock crushing room.
Szymanski isn't bothered by the dust on his shirt or the mud on his boots. Research is the part of geology he likes, but the Ph.D student also recognizes that academic lab research isn't going to help him pay off his student loans quickly.
He is one of an increasing number of geology students who are taking six figure incomes in the oil industry, waving the choice of research in their own lab to have financial security doing someone else's research.
"It's difficult to look at it and say no right now," Szymanski said, "you can go and work for them for two years and bail yourself out of debt from the previous six."
Historically, as the price of a barrel of oil goes up so does the demand for geologists in the oil and gas industry. The past two years have been no different.
The American Geological Institute released statistics this fall showing that the number of geologists in the industry - on a steady decline since the 1970s - is on its was back up. The demand for new geologists in the industry went above 40,000 in 2007 and is projected to rise to nearly 60,000 in 2029.
Future mass retirements are also a factor. The number of geologists between the age of 51 and 55 is more than double the number of geologists between the ages of 31 and 35. With retirement just years away, their positions will need to be filled to maintain production.
At the University of Kansas department of geology, oil company representatives make regular visits to recruit new employees. Students who had no intention of going into the industry are swayed by the promise of job security.
Szymanski said that if it weren't for the interviews set up by the department he probably wouldn't have considered oil and gas a seriously as he did.
"You start talking to people and you learn that they do some pretty cool geology," Szymanski said.
Undergraduate interest in geology has also increased. Daniel Stockli, associate professor in geology, is the instructor for mineralogy, one of the first upper-level classes for geology students. Stockli's class grew 20 percent from 2005 to 2006, and another 20 percent in 2007.
As numbers go up securing lab time becomes logistically challenging.
Mineralogy, which used to have around 25 students in two lab sections,
started the semester with 45 students and a third lab section. Stockli,
who thinks his class should be a fun way to learn a challenging topic,
said "it might be difficult to hang on to the family-style lab."
Robert Goldstein, geology department chair, said the shortage of geologists in the industry workforce translates into an exciting time for the students and the department.
"There's going to be great pay and exciting work that people will get to do," Goldstein said.
Enrollment in geology programs isn't up across the country though. Geosciences programs that are specializing their programs in groundwater and geochemistry studies are lacking. Goldstein said it's important to maintain credible programs that relate to the extractive industries and environmental industries.
"Students want to have successful careers long term," Goldstein said.
Other petroleum-based universities are also experiencing high enrollment. Schools like Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have historically been training-grounds for the oil industry. They are all thriving.
Christie Hawkins, the director of Institutional Research and Information Management at Oklahoma State, said their department has grown. In 2004 there were 61 undergraduate students in OSU geology program, now there are 99 students, a 62 percent increase. Graduate enrollment also increased 50 percent.
Although Szymanski had no intention of going into the oil and gas industry, he warmed up to the idea while at KU. The opportunity to do real geology research and enjoy financial security made the oil and gas industry a favorable career.
"As I get older I realize financial security is something that's very important," Szymanski said.
Szymanski isn't bothered by the dust on his shirt or the mud on his boots. Research is the part of geology he likes, but the Ph.D student also recognizes that academic lab research isn't going to help him pay off his student loans quickly.
He is one of an increasing number of geology students who are taking six figure incomes in the oil industry, waving the choice of research in their own lab to have financial security doing someone else's research.
"It's difficult to look at it and say no right now," Szymanski said, "you can go and work for them for two years and bail yourself out of debt from the previous six."
Historically, as the price of a barrel of oil goes up so does the demand for geologists in the oil and gas industry. The past two years have been no different.
The American Geological Institute released statistics this fall showing that the number of geologists in the industry - on a steady decline since the 1970s - is on its was back up. The demand for new geologists in the industry went above 40,000 in 2007 and is projected to rise to nearly 60,000 in 2029.
Future mass retirements are also a factor. The number of geologists between the age of 51 and 55 is more than double the number of geologists between the ages of 31 and 35. With retirement just years away, their positions will need to be filled to maintain production.
At the University of Kansas department of geology, oil company representatives make regular visits to recruit new employees. Students who had no intention of going into the industry are swayed by the promise of job security.
Szymanski said that if it weren't for the interviews set up by the department he probably wouldn't have considered oil and gas a seriously as he did.
"You start talking to people and you learn that they do some pretty cool geology," Szymanski said.
Undergraduate interest in geology has also increased. Daniel Stockli, associate professor in geology, is the instructor for mineralogy, one of the first upper-level classes for geology students. Stockli's class grew 20 percent from 2005 to 2006, and another 20 percent in 2007.
As numbers go up securing lab time becomes logistically challenging.
Mineralogy, which used to have around 25 students in two lab sections,
started the semester with 45 students and a third lab section. Stockli,
who thinks his class should be a fun way to learn a challenging topic,
said "it might be difficult to hang on to the family-style lab."Robert Goldstein, geology department chair, said the shortage of geologists in the industry workforce translates into an exciting time for the students and the department.
"There's going to be great pay and exciting work that people will get to do," Goldstein said.
Enrollment in geology programs isn't up across the country though. Geosciences programs that are specializing their programs in groundwater and geochemistry studies are lacking. Goldstein said it's important to maintain credible programs that relate to the extractive industries and environmental industries.
"Students want to have successful careers long term," Goldstein said.
Other petroleum-based universities are also experiencing high enrollment. Schools like Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have historically been training-grounds for the oil industry. They are all thriving.
Christie Hawkins, the director of Institutional Research and Information Management at Oklahoma State, said their department has grown. In 2004 there were 61 undergraduate students in OSU geology program, now there are 99 students, a 62 percent increase. Graduate enrollment also increased 50 percent.
Although Szymanski had no intention of going into the oil and gas industry, he warmed up to the idea while at KU. The opportunity to do real geology research and enjoy financial security made the oil and gas industry a favorable career.
"As I get older I realize financial security is something that's very important," Szymanski said.
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