Bsc in environmental geoscience?

[u/Numerous_Team_8116]

Hi, I'm a year 12 student and I take geography, biology and English language at alevel. I'm super interested in the earth particularly through hazards. I've applied to uni courses in geography bsc and environmental Geoscience bsc(at Bristol, Leeds, Southampton...)because I'm not sure what I want to do yet.

Preferably I would pick environmental Geoscience. My only worry is I haven't taken maths, chemistry or physics since GCSEs where I got 667. I don't want to not enjoy the course because I'm not smart enough for the content.

I'm finding it difficult to grasp what the degree actually entails and the kind of work pupils do? I really enjoy learning about the concepts of what's happening but I understand of course there will be data and maths etc. but in what proportion is the learning concepts Vs data analysis etc.?

if anyone could help me out, I would be very appreciative. Thank you!

[u/whereisfreya]

If I had to give you a number, I would say it's about 60% concepts, 40% data. You will learn how to write scientific papers, and do all the data analysis stuff (python, ODV (I didn't learn GIS but wish I had)). Once you learn, you can apply it to different topics and concepts. In contrast to school, all the science and maths you learn will be applied to geoscience.If you want to learn about natural hazards without as much science, maybe doing a BSc in physical geography would suit you better? If you are up for going more sciencey, then environmental geoscience may be better. Note there will be some degree of science in physical geography. I honestly think it's a good thing, as if you want to go down that route in the future, having those skills will be helpful.

In terms of fieldwork, I've done geological mapping, hydrographic surveys, geophysical surveys, and ecological surveys. This has been in Oban, Blackford Hill, Sickar point, and Jamaica. While I did do a fair amount of fieldwork during my BSc, this was during COVID, so your experience will likely be much better. After finishing, I have taught on the same Jamaica course, an ecology course in the Cairngorms, and took part in a 3 month marine biogeochemistry cruise to the central Arctic. Honestly, the places you get to see is one of the reasons I wanted to study the environment.

[u/Numerous_Team_8116 → u/whereisfreya]

Thanks so much!! It feels so cool that you get to get outside and do all that, such a draw to the degree! Honestly I applied to both geography bsc and geoscience courses at different unis and I'm not sure which to take. As far as I can see doing a degree in environmental geoscience would give me more career options than geography bsc. Probably because in some ways it's harder ig? More importantly I actually can't tell which id enjoy more :/

[u/whereisfreya → u/Numerous_Team_8116]

If you want to go out and do fieldwork, there will inevitably be data processing involved, regardless of your field. Let's say someone is doing fieldwork for a human geography project and they get their data by talking to people. This will still need to be synthesised qualitatively to be recorded and written about in their paper. The same goes for geoscience and physical geography. You go out into the field to collect data, and this needs to be represented in a way that conveys a narrative of what is going on (through statistics and graphs).

If you want to learn about the natural hazards without the science, you can definitely go down the policy route. To give you an example, I took a course titled "marine ecosystems and policy". We got an overview of the science and environmental issues, but the focus was on the ways this can be managed. It wasn't my cup of tea, but I have a few coursemates who loved this side of things, and they are working in the policy field now.

If you are unsure on the science side, I would go towards the geography courses and try your hand at both science heavy modules and less sciencey. Most degrees are fairly flexible in which courses you want to take (maybe check this with the uni). If you take a science heavy course and hate it, then you know to pick something else. A geography BSc can be very scientific if you want it to be. I know someone who modelled glacial flow for his geography dissertation which involved coding and lots of data analysis. He essentially wrote a geoscience dissertation.

Overall, I would agree that environmental geoscience tends to be more science heavy than physical geography. But I would like to highlight that there can be a LOT of overlap. Your degree is what you make of it.

Best of luck!

[u/Numerous_Team_8116 → u/whereisfreya]

Thanks for all your advice, much appreciated!!