Behind the career: Geological Engineering

Geologist and Geotechnical Engineer (EIT) at Teck Resources Limited 

"I get to play around outside quite a lot with my job and work with people of all different backgrounds...It is a pretty fulfilling job getting to work with a ton of great people!” 

As a Geological Engineer, Kate has been able and qualified to explore many different disciplines and industries within the field. While she has mostly done geotechnical roles throughout her career, she is currently taking on responsibilities as a short-ranged geologist for Teck Resources Limited, the company she did her capstone project on. From monitoring data and drill activity to identifying dangers and updating safety procedures, Kate is able to wear many different hats with her degree. “I have worked a couple of different schedules with geology and geotech work I have done within mining,” Kate explains about the ever-changing nature of her job.  

The exciting, dynamic nature of her career not only reflects in Kate’s workdays, but in the discipline itself. In fact, it was the flexibility and creativity of the field that helped Kate commit to pursuing it. When asked how she chose her specialization, Kate says it was meeting passionate people studying it that opened her eyes to the smaller, niche program. “[I met] a lot of people in the program who seemed really interested in what they were doing and really passionate about it [so] they painted a pretty interesting picture of the industry that it was.” From there, Kate researched more into the field and found it was the perfect fit for someone like her who craved something involving a bit more critical thinking and change. “There is more room for creativity and qualitative judgement within geological engineering than some of the more traditional, technical disciplines. Plus, there are also a lot of fun, outdoor opportunities and you get to work in lots of beautiful places every now and again.” 

Kate encourages anyone curious about the major to not shy away from its small size, but rather be open-minded and embrace its tight-knit, motivated community.