About the Department
In simple terms Geology means ‘Study of the Earth’. In common usage ‘Geoscience’ or ‘Earth Science’ is synonymous to ‘Geology’ and, broadly speaking, it involves the study of the solid Earth in its entirety. More specifically, however, it requires the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and other earth materials, in order to understand how our Earth originated and progressively evolved through time. Such study also allows fruitfully delving into the various applied fields like mineral exploration, petroleum exploration, hydrogeological investigations, natural disaster prevention or mitigation, engineering geological applications, etc. Basic understanding in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, geography etc. proves very useful during the study of Geology. Adventure-loving and Nature-loving students can find great charm in geological fieldworks. A well-trained geologist is the most equipped person in human society to look after the Earth and the Environment well.
For the new entrants, the Geology Department of Sister Nibedita Government General Degree College for Girls (SNGGDCG) now offers a 4-Year Honours Undergraduate Course in Geology. Successful completion of this 4-year degree course would make the student a professional geologist, one who is eligible to join any professional organization (government or private) or to work as an independent consultant. However, for entering into the Geology teaching profession in any college or university in India, the candidate would be required to obtain a PhD degree in addition to clearing a national level test like NET, GATE, etc. Doing a Masters degree after the graduation will not be compulsory, but optional.
All the sanctioned teaching posts in the Geology Department are now filled up by competent teachers; the Department has adequate space for classes and academic discussions among students; the laboratories are equipped with basic instruments for mineral and rock studies in-house as well as in the field (i.e. in natural settings outdoor), adequate rock and mineral specimens, maps and microscopes, etc. While trying to keep pace with the progressively changing syllabi of the affiliating university (i.e. the University of Calcutta), occasionally there are certain delays in procuring the appropriate instruments by following the prevailing governmental norms; but with sincere efforts on the part of the faculty members and the college authority such lapses and lacunae are sorted out soon. The congeniality in the academic atmosphere prevailing in the Department, the current relatively high teacher-to-student ratio and the sincere efforts being made by the teachers to give to the students a ‘home away from home’-feeling about the Department, are expected to yield notable results in near future. That the college has a very good well managed library, where the students have direct access to books, nicely complements and supplements the efforts made by the Geology Department.
The Department was established in 2015 simultaneously with the college itself. After passing out from here, the students mostly go to prestigious universities or institutions of higher learning in India for their postgraduate studies. Several alumni are already well placed in life. Recently the 1st Semester students of the department went for geological fieldwork to the Biharinath Hill area in Bankura District under the supervision of the Head of the Department, Assoc. Prof. Subrata Ghosh. It was a very enlightening and successful tour. The students submitted good field reports on their study. Currently the students of the department have been attending online evening classes on Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (RS & GIS) being taken by a Prime Ministerial Research Fellow in Geophysics of IIT-Kharagpur as an external Teaching Assistant. Following this there will be hands-on training also on the subject. Side-by-side with their core education, our students are also strongly encouraged to participate in various co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and competitions – both intra-college and inter-college. It is believed that such exposures would later greatly help in their career.
Career opportunities:
There are excellent career opportunities for geologists. These days the private sector is progressing even faster than the public sector, nationally as well as globally. Mineral exploration in African countries; highway, tunnel and dam constructions in the Indian Himalayas, would require a huge number of competent geologists in near future. Public sector organisations like ONGC, GSI, Oil India, various coal and metal mining companies, State Mines and Minerals Directorates, etc. require a steady flow of new geologists every year to fill up the vacancies generated due to retirements. There is also the vast domain of academic and research institutions in India and abroad requiring a large number of young geoscientists. The key to success would lie in learning the subject of ‘Geology’ well (through as much of direct classroom interactions with teachers as possible) and also in simultaneous sharpening of the skill to write and speak well.