Case studies: Consulting engineering geologist: Bridget Hall

Bridget has a BSc Exploration and Resource Geology and an MSc Engineering Geology. She currently works for consulting engineers Norplan in Norway

Having always taken a keen interest in hard rock geology, two-and-a-half years ago I moved to Norway and took up a position at Norplan in Oslo. I have spent two very interesting years in their energy department working predominantly on designing hydropower projects and, of course, in learning to speak Norwegian.

Projects in Albania and East Timor have involved lots of fieldwork during which I have had to draw on the important core geological skills learned at university. So how did I get to where I am today?

After graduating from Cardiff University  with a Bachelors degree in exploration and resource geology, I did a summer work placement at English Partnerships Coombe Down Mines Stabilisation Project in Bath. I then moved directly onto the engineering geology Masters course at the University of Leeds before beginning my career in consulting engineering.

Initially, I spent six months working for a small tunnelling consultancy before accepting a permanent position with UK consultants URS (formerly Scott Wilson). I successfully completed their three-year graduate training programme and I was involved in a wide range of infrastructure and development project opportunities both in the UK and abroad, including several months based in the United Arab Emirates.

I chose Cardiff University due to the excellent reputation of the earth sciences department, the range and flexibility of the degree courses and for the great atmosphere at the students' union. During my time at Cardiff I was president of the caving club and a member of RocSoc.

Fieldtrips were the highlight of my course, particularly my second year summer spent mapping complex metamorphic rocks on the west coast of Ireland and in my final year the ophiolite complex in Cyprus.

A number of applied modules in my final year at Cardiff gave me the chance to taste further possibilities within the field of geology. The engineering geology module helped steer me towards a Masters degree in that subject for which the entrance requirement was an upper second class degree.

At the University of Leeds I built on the basics I had learned at Cardiff and I had the opportunity to acquire more specialised knowledge relevant for a career in the engineering industry. Plus, there was the opportunity for more fieldwork.

A prerequisite for a job in consulting engineering is a Masters degree from a reputable university with good marks. In addition to technical knowledge, I have gained transferable skills during my degrees in information technology and teamwork, as well as a sound knowledge of health and safety risk assessment.

My extracurricular activities have always been a talking point at job interviews; membership and leadership of clubs demonstrate commitment, and experience of overseas travel and of the outdoors are relevant for carrying out fieldwork.

I am now on an exciting secondment to one of the largest construction projects in Norway supervising the construction of tunnels.

AGCAS

Sourced by AGCAS editors

Date: 

November 2012

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