Imagine working as an offshore exploration geophysicist for a marine renewable energy company. Your current project involves the North Sea, targeting the precise location of seabed minerals essential for renewable energy technologies. In the morning, aboard a research vessel, you and your team prepare to test innovative seismic exploration equipment designed to locate these minerals with minimal environmental impact.
The challenge is to extract these resources sustainably, balancing economic needs with preserving marine ecosystems. Traditional methods often lead to broader ecological disturbances, but your team's new approach aims to significantly reduce such risks.
Upon deploying the equipment, you encounter a technical hurdle—the seismic waves must provide precise data due to unusual undersea formations. This problem requires a swift response—you adjust the equipment's settings to penetrate these complexities better, enhancing data accuracy.
This solution successfully reveals a valuable mineral deposit, demonstrating the potential of your team's technology to revolutionize sustainable marine exploration. This effort underscores the essential role of marine geophysicists in promoting environmentally responsible resource extraction, contributing to the sustainable development of marine resources while ensuring the protection of underwater ecosystems.
Job duties vary from one position to the next, but in general, marine geophysicists are involved in the following activities:
If you are a high school student considering a career as an environmental geophysicist, you should have a keen interest in:
If you are a post-secondary student considering a career as an environmental geophysicist, the following programs are most applicable.
In most cases, the minimum education requirement to work as an environmental geophysicist is a graduate degree. Pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in fields related to environmental geophysics can enhance your expertise, career prospects, and ability to contribute to the field. These advanced degrees offer specialized knowledge and skills highly valued in both the professional and academic worlds.
In many provinces, geophysicists must obtain registration and licensure with their provincial association as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.). The certification process for geophysicists is similar to that of engineering professions and is typically overseen by the same regulatory body.
Our Environmental Professional (EP) designation can also help you progress in your chosen environmental career.
Technical Skills
Personal and Professional Skills
Environmental employers look for professionals who can combine technical knowledge with soft skills. Watch our free webinar “Essential Not Optional: Skills Needed to Succeed in Canada’s Environmental Industry” or take our Essential Skills courses.
As key executive leaders who shape their company’s sustainability policy, CSOs work in many different types of organizations. Common employers of CSOs include:
Search for jobs on the ECO Canada Job Board.
If you are a post-secondary student seeking a CSO role in the future, consider pursuing a university degree related to:
In addition to the educational fields mentioned above, you will also need extensive management experience to become a CSO, with well-developed human resources management and leadership skills. Consider educational seminars or post-graduate studies that will hone your analytical thinking, such as:
Our Environmental Professional (EP) designation can also help you progress in your chosen environmental career.
Technical Skills
Personal and Professional Skills
Environmental employers seek professionals who combine technical knowledge with personal and professional skills. Watch our free webinar “Essential Not Optional: Skills Needed to Succeed in Canada’s Environmental Industry” or take our Essential Skills courses.
Marine geophysicists contribute to our understanding of the Earth's marine ecosystems. Through the collection and analysis of seismic data, these professionals map the ocean floor, identify geological formations, and study underwater processes. They assess the potential environmental effects of underwater construction, oil and gas exploration, and other marine activities, ensuring that such projects are undertaken responsibly. This occupation focuses on exploring and safeguarding oceanic resources and habitats. Marine geophysicists analyze data to mitigate climate change issues, such as sea-level rise and ocean acidification.
Marine geophysicists are essential to sustainable marine management, identifying locations for offshore wind farms that offer a cleaner energy alternative with minimal environmental impact. Their work locating underwater resources supports industries in sustainable resource extraction, balancing economic growth with environmental conservation. Additionally, their predictive analyses of natural disasters like tsunamis and earthquakes are crucial for early warnings, reducing the impact on communities and livelihoods.
Marine geophysicists advance environmental protection, sustainable development, and societal well-being, marrying economic viability with ecological stewardship and community safety.
Marine geologists are classified into the following occupational grouping:
NOC Code: 21102 – Geoscientists and oceanographers
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) provides a standardized language for describing the work performed by Canadians in the labour market. It gives statisticians, labour market analysts, career counsellors, employers, and individual job seekers a consistent way to collect data and describe and understand the nature of work within different occupations.
See ECO’s Blue National Occupational Standard for a career competency profile for a marine geologist that outlines the specific skills, knowledge, and behaviours required for individuals to perform effectively in this particular role. This profile is a benchmark for training and development, ensuring consistency and quality across professions within the blue economy.
Dans un esprit de respect, de réciprocité et de vérité, nous honorons et reconnaissons Moh’kinsstis, le territoire traditionnel du Traité 7 et les pratiques orales de la confédération des Pieds-Noirs : Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, ainsi que les nations Îyâxe Nakoda et Tsuut’ina. Nous reconnaissons que ce territoire abrite la Nation métisse de l’Alberta, la région 3 au sein de la patrie historique des Métis du Nord-Ouest. Enfin, nous reconnaissons toutes les nations qui vivent, travaillent et se divertissent sur ce territoire, et qui l’honorent et le célèbrent.
In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, we acknowledge that we live, work, and gather on the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, including the Blackfoot Confederacy—comprising the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani Nations—as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina Nations.
This land, known as Moh’kinsstis in the Blackfoot language and encompassing what is now Districts 5 and 6, is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland.
We recognize and honour the deep connection these Nations have to the land, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share in its stewardship.
As we continue our work, we commit to learning from Indigenous knowledge systems, uplifting Indigenous voices, and fostering relationships rooted in equity, understanding, and reconciliation.
Nous travaillons actuellement sur la version française du site que nous espérons lancer très bientôt!
Merci pour votre patience et compréhension pendant que nous finalisons la version améliorée du site.
We are working to launch the French site very soon!
Thank you for your patience while we finalize the new and improved version of our website.