282 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 



taught, for it would find an appropriate place in urban schools also, especi- 

 ally where museums make special provisions for the display and supply 

 of teaching materials. London schools are particularly fortunate in the 

 facilities thus afforded ; for instance, the models, photographs, dioramas 

 and other exhibits at the new Geological Museum are of such outstanding 

 value that it may be claimed that many London schools have advantages 

 for the teaching of the subject which outweigh the disadvantages arising 

 from the distance from areas where actual field studies can be made. 



Geology and Careers. 



While the introduction of Geology into schools is advocated by the 

 Committee chiefly on cultural grounds, it may be useful to give some 

 indications of the nature of the posts available to qualified geologists. 



Apart from those obtaining academic appointments and posts in museums, 

 most graduates in Geology find positions in geological surveys at home or 

 in the Empire, or on the staff of mining and oil companies in all parts of 

 the world. Most of these posts involve much field work, sometimes in 

 relatively unexplored countries, thus aifording attractive opportunities for 

 young men who are willing to undertake work abroad. 



The number of posts of this kind is not of course large, but there is already 

 a difficulty in finding sufficient students to fill the posts which are available. 

 It is certain that there will be a still greater dearth of British-trained 

 geologists in the near future, unless something is done to stimulate the 

 entry of students into geological courses. Meanwhile, considerable 

 numbers of geologists are being trained in American and German Univer- 

 sities, and they are filling the majority of posts in many parts of the world. 



Quite apart, however, from the relatively limited number of students 

 who may eventually make Geology their profession, it must be remembered 

 that Geology forms a useful subsidiary subject for students traininjr for 

 different types of career in science, agriculture and engineering, and for 

 administrative posts in India and the Colonies. It is ordinarily taken by 

 University students pursuing courses in Civil Engineering, Mining and 

 Metallurgy, but it may be urged that some knowledge of Geology is of the 

 greatest value to many other scientific workers, having regard to the fact 

 that the majority of materials used in industry are obtained from the earth's 

 crust, and to the wide range of applications of Geology to problems related 

 to building and road materials, foundations, soils, drainage and water 

 supply. 



Although many students preparing for such careers will have oppor- 

 tunities for taking classes in Geology at the University, only a small pro- 

 portion are likely to do so if their interest in the subject has not been aroused 

 at school, for it is becoming increasingly rare for students entering the 

 Universit\' to take up new subjects, owing to the high standard to which 

 work in school subjects has been carried and to the exemptions from first- 

 year University examinations which are thereby granted. 



Moreover, it must be emphasised that only a small proportion of those 

 who enter for the various school examinations pass on to University work ; 

 most of them take up posts in industry and commerce at once. Of these, 

 a considerable proportion who have no further academic training obtain 

 posts where they are sooner or later concerned with mining, building, 

 engineering or other problems in which even a small acquaintance with 

 geological matters would be of real assistance. In ordinary life, too, 

 opportunities for using scientific knowledge are continually increasing 



