Traveling Science Careers: Exploring The Globe Through Work

If you're looking for a job that combines your passion for science and travel, there are several options to consider. For instance, environmental scientists and foresters often have opportunities to travel to remote locations. Archaeologists, who spend their time excavating and studying past civilizations, can choose to specialize in specific regions like the Middle East or South America. Anthropologists, similar to archaeologists, also work on dig sites but focus on understanding human conditions, myths, religious practices, genetics, and social interactions.

Additionally, geology-related fields offer ample travel opportunities. Geochemists, for example, may travel to different locations to study rock formations and geological events. Other geoscience professions, such as paleontology, oceanography, seismology, and zoology/wildlife biology, also involve significant travel to dig sites, oceans, and animal habitats, respectively. These jobs provide a unique blend of scientific exploration and discovery in diverse locations.

Geoscience jobs

If you're interested in physical sciences, the geology field can offer a lot of travel opportunities. A degree in geology can lead to a wide range of careers, and with the right experience and training, you can find yourself globetrotting as an exploratory geologist. These professionals have specialized knowledge of the Earth's surface and are often hired by companies that mine or otherwise depend on natural resources to find these resources, such as silver, copper, or natural gas.

• Geophysics field technician: Companies like Zonge, SJ Geophysics, Ground Truth Exploration, Archer Cathro, Aurora Geoscience, and Frontier Geo offer these positions, often based in Canada and the Yukon region.
• Core logger or geotech on a drill program: Entry into these positions can be found by networking at local conferences and geology organization meetings.
• Researcher: This role can take you anywhere in the world, depending on your field of research. For example, a focus on climate, geophysics, or the age of rocks could lead to travel opportunities in the Arctic.
• Mineral exploration: This career involves travelling to wherever the company needs you, which can be anywhere in the world, depending on the commodity.
• Petroleum Geology: These roles are often based in the Middle East and advertised by companies like Saudi Aramco.
• Environmental and Geotechnical: These roles typically involve travelling around a specific region, which may include some interesting locations.

Education and Training

To prepare for a career in geoscience, you can pursue a degree in geology or a related field, such as geophysics, geoscience, or geological engineering. The University of Wisconsin-Madison, for example, offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in geology, geophysics, and geological engineering. Their Department of Geoscience also provides opportunities for networking and gaining practical field experience through excavations and geology clubs.

Salary

The median pay for geoscientists in the US is reported to be over $90,000, and those working in mining or petroleum tend to earn even more.

Archaeology

Archaeologists work in various settings, including federal and state government agencies, museums, historic sites, colleges, and universities. They may also work for engineering firms with cultural resource management divisions or as consultants. The majority of archaeologists are employed in cultural resource management (CRM), where they conduct archaeological research to comply with federal historic preservation laws. These CRM archaeologists may work as field or laboratory assistants, project managers, or administrators. They are responsible for directing field and lab work, managing staff, collecting data, and disseminating their research findings through reports and publications.

The travel aspect of archaeology varies depending on the specific job role and location. Some archaeologists whose research areas are far from their residence may need to travel for surveys, excavations, and laboratory analyses. However, it is important to note that many archaeologists do not travel extensively, especially those in government, museum, or historic site positions, as their work involves managing collections, public programs, and education initiatives. For example, an archaeologist managing projects for an engineering firm may travel within a specific geographic area as required by the company.

To become an archaeologist, a minimum of a 4-year college degree (BA or BS) in anthropology or archaeology is required. Field and laboratory training is essential, and participating in a university-sponsored field school is often necessary for employment. Postgraduate study, such as a Master's or Doctorate in anthropology, along with work experience supervising field and lab projects, is required for more advanced positions.

Anthropology

Academia

Anthropologists are often employed by universities and colleges, where they teach and conduct research. They may work in departments of anthropology, research laboratories, or other university programs such as medicine, epidemiology, public health, cultural studies, linguistics, and ecology.

Business

Many corporations, especially those focused on market research, seek out anthropologists to gain a better understanding of consumer preferences and patterns. Anthropologists in this field use their research skills to conduct focus groups and gather insights that can inform product and service improvements.

Government

The federal government is one of the largest employers of anthropologists outside of academia. Anthropologists working in the government sector may be involved in international development, cultural resource management, forensic and physical anthropology, natural resource management, and defense and security.

Non-profit and Community-based Organisations

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as international health organisations and development banks, employ anthropologists to design and implement various programs. Anthropologists may also work for local community-based settings, such as community research organisations, schools, environmental organisations, or humanitarian centres.

Travel Opportunities

While not all anthropology jobs require extensive travel, there are certainly opportunities for those who wish to explore different cultures and locations. Anthropologists may find themselves working with foreign cultures, conducting fieldwork, or participating in archaeological digs and research expeditions. Additionally, some anthropologists work in tourism, providing hospitality and helping people book trips, which can also offer travel opportunities.

Example Job Titles

• Teacher-Scholar Fellow in Sociology & Anthropology
• Cultural Sociologist/Anthropologist
• Socio-cultural Analyst
• Archaeological Field Technician
• Forensic Anthropologist
• Corporate Anthropologist

Nursing

Benefits of Travel Nursing

Travel nursing offers a range of advantages for nurses:

• Higher salaries and benefits: Travel nurses typically earn more than full-time permanent staff nurses, with the potential to earn up to $2,300 a week. They often receive additional benefits like housing stipends, travel reimbursements, and other incentives.
• Travel opportunities: Travel nurses can explore new places and experience different lifestyles by taking on assignments in various locations, from big cities to small towns, and coastal areas to mountainous regions.
• Resume enhancement: Working in top-rated hospitals and facilities across the country boosts a travel nurse's resume, which can be beneficial for graduate school admissions and landing prominent staff positions.
• Flexibility: Travel nurses have the option to take time off between contracts to travel or spend time with family. They can also choose the length of their contracts, ranging from short-term to long-term, depending on their preferences for stability and travel.
• Professional growth: Travel nursing allows nurses to work in different facilities, gain experience in various specialties, and network with professionals from diverse backgrounds.

How to Become a Travel Nurse

To become a travel nurse, there are a few key steps:

• Registered Nurse (RN) license: You must be a registered nurse to work as a travel nurse.
• Work experience: Travel nurses typically need at least one year of work experience in their specialty, and some facilities may require up to two years.
• Specialty certification: While not always necessary, having a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) makes a travel nurse more marketable. Magnet hospitals and large academic teaching hospitals often prefer travel nurses with a BSN.
• State licensing: Travel nurses must be licensed to practice in the state where they accept a contract. Obtaining an Enhanced Nursing Licensure (eNLC), or Compact License, is advantageous as it allows practice in 39 states.
• Agency registration: Travel nurses typically find assignments through staffing agencies that connect them with hospitals and healthcare facilities. There are numerous travel nurse staffing agencies to choose from, and it is beneficial to research and compare the benefits and opportunities offered by each.

Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing

While travel nursing offers many advantages, there are also some challenges to consider:

• Distance from family and friends: Travel nursing assignments may take you far away from your support system, which can be difficult for those who prioritize close connections.
• Difficulty in building roots: Constant travel makes it harder to establish deep and long-lasting relationships in the places you work.
• Limited control over work schedule: Travel nurses often have less say in their work schedules as they are filling specific staffing gaps, and their shift preferences may not always be accommodated.
• Potential for less favourable treatment: In some cases, travel nurses may feel they are given more challenging assignments or that their abilities are overlooked due to their temporary status.

Travel nursing provides a unique opportunity for nurses to combine their profession with a desire to explore new places. It offers financial incentives, professional growth, and the chance to work in top-rated hospitals across the country. However, it also comes with the challenge of maintaining connections and adapting to new environments frequently. Ultimately, travel nursing can be a rewarding and enriching career choice for those seeking adventure and willing to embrace the transient nature of the job.

Geology

Planetary Geologist

Planetary geologists research the solar system's solid bodies, including planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteors. They may travel to remote locations to study rock formations and geological events. For example, a planetary geologist might travel to a meteorite impact site to study the effects of the impact on the surrounding terrain.

Hydrogeologist

Hydrogeologists focus on the movement and distribution of groundwater. They may travel to different locations to study the impact of contaminants on water sources or to assess the potential for groundwater resources in a particular area.

Geochemist

Geochemists study the chemical composition of the Earth and its processes. They may travel to different locations to collect samples for analysis or to study the effects of geological processes on the environment. For example, a geochemist might travel to a volcanic region to study the chemical composition of the lava and gases emitted.

Paleontologist

Paleontologists are geoscientists who study ancient plant and animal life by recovering fossils from dig sites. They may travel to different locations to search for fossils or to study the fossils that have already been discovered.

Seismologist

Seismologists use specialized equipment to measure and study earthquakes and their effects on the Earth. They often travel to earthquake-prone regions to set up and maintain their equipment and to study the effects of earthquakes on the local terrain and population.

A career in geology offers a diverse range of opportunities for those who wish to travel, with many specializations to choose from. Geologists often have the chance to visit and study interesting and remote locations while contributing to our understanding of the Earth and its history.

Frequently asked questions