- Geoscience research can provide valuable context for questions in environmental science, climate research and sustainability.
- Geological information can help researchers understand physical conditions that affect engineering, infrastructure and communities.
- Research into water, soil, minerals and naturally occurring elements can support investigations into environmental and public health.
- Geological evidence can help archaeology and anthropology researchers better understand past environments, human activity and migration.
Environmental Science, Climate Research and Sustainability
How can Earth's past help researchers explore today's environmental challenges?
Geology and geosciences give insight into the Earth’s history and help researchers understand how the Earth has evolved. This context from geological evidence can offer a clearer picture for researchers studying how climates, ecosystems, and landscapes have changed over a long period of time. Rocks, fossils, and sediment records can support research in:
- Climate change, ecology and environmental change
- Land use, land cover and landscape change
- Extreme weather and natural hazards
- Natural and energy resources
Students and researchers in environmental science, sustainability, and other related subjects can use geological literature to explore past climate conditions and develop further assessments of current and future environmental research.
Engineering and Infrastructure
Why does what's beneath the Earth's surface matter to what we build above it?
Geology plays a key role in understanding physical environments – especially when it comes to urban planning and infrastructure engineering. Geological conditions such as seismic activity, slope stability, and natural risks influence how structures are built, designed, and assessed for potential trouble.
Researchers, professionals, and students can get a better analysis of what is happening beneath the surface through geoscience research including:
- Soil and rock stability
- Geotechnics
- Infrastructure resilience
- Erosion and subsurface data
For engineering, urban planning, and infrastructure students, access to geoscience research can provide a complete picture of physical and environmental factors that influence infrastructure and communities.
Public and Human Health
What does the Earth beneath us have to do with human health?
The connection between geosciences and public health may not be as obvious to some researchers. The water, soil, and minerals that surround a community can impact how people's physical health is influenced by their physical environment.
Geology and geoscience research can help researchers answer questions surrounding:
- Groundwater and quality of drinking water
- Mineral and dust exposure
- Radon and other naturally occurring elements
- Soil contamination
Researchers investigating environmental health issues may need to evaluate where the health concern originated, how it moves from one environment to another, and what predisposes an area to being more affected than others. Access to research on groundwater, soil, and other geological factors can help connect health outcomes to the physical environments where they occur. Understanding geoscientific problems can help public health professionals predict, address and recover from environmental problems.
Archaeology and Anthropology
How can Earth's history help researchers understand human history?
Anthropological researchers not only can explore how past societies and people functioned but also can use geosciences to understand the environmental conditions and landscapes where those civilizations lived.
Geology can contribute to archeological and anthropological research through understanding:
- Human evolution, behavior and migration
- Sources of minerals, stone and other materials
- Geological dating
- Archaeological sites and ancient landscapes
To get a better understanding of why a certain ancient community relocated or how they interacted with other beings in their environment, a researcher may turn to geological evidence.
For archaeology and anthropology students, geoscience literature can provide a frame of reference to questions about human history. They may use geoscience research to get a better understanding of why certain ancient communities relocated or how ancient people interacted with other beings in their environment. Changes in climate, water availability, or natural resources help provide context for a more complete picture of humanity's past.
Research Across Disciplines
Research questions don't always stay within the bounds of one single discipline – and neither does the value of geoscience literature. Students and researchers across environmental science, engineering, public health, archaeology, and other fields may turn to geoscience research to bring additional context to their work.
GeoRef with Full Text builds on GeoRef's specialized index by providing access to a broad collection of full-text geoscience literature. This database helps researchers connect geosciences across other disciplines – whether geoscience is the core of a research question, or one element of a broader search, reliable geological information can help uncover connections across fields and reveal a more complete view. This expanded access can support research beyond traditional geology programs, helping students across disciplines make connections between geoscience and their own areas of study.
