Geoscience encompasses all aspects of the solid Earth and its interactions with the atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. Geologists are interested in processes on and within the earth, interpreting the history of the Earth and the distribution of mineral and energy resources. Geophysicists study the physics of processes within the Earth and the development and use of physical methods to solve geoscientific problems. Hydrogeologists focus on the flow of fluids and chemical compounds, such as contaminants, beneath the ground surface, and their interactions with surrounding rock and soil.
The expertise of geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists is required by government and private agencies concerned with agriculture and forestry, water supply and hydro-electric power, civil engineering, waste disposal and contaminated site remediation, and conservation of natural resources.