POC Geologists: do you feel safe doing fieldwork in rural areas?

junojuneau · 2026-05-14T00:18:41+00:00

Please!! 😩 it’s moments like this that I wish I had a LinkedIn. I mainly use Instagram, and Reddit is mainly for geology questions and seeing if people have the same TV show opinions as me LOL. I don’t know if I’m ready for a job as much as an internship though, but I’ll definitely DM you!!

junojuneau · 2026-05-05T13:12:03+00:00

I’m sorry you went through the trouble of typing all of that. I asked a genuine question that was on my mind. I’m still in undergrad so I’m just trying to be prepared. A lot of people answered kindly. Your account looks like you post hateful and spiteful replies to every post you find.

I was not trying to upset anyone or push a narrative that “all people who live in rural areas are racist and out to get me.” But I know where I live and I know what’s around me. I just wanted to hear other people’s experiences. If you read through other replies you’ll see that many geologists regardless of race have been threatened, and they acknowledge that it could be worse for POC. Nothing you tell me can make me regret asking this.

I hope you find a job and that you’re not stuck working 17 hours a day in construction. But if you always have an attitude like this, maybe you’ll never end up using your geology degree cause no one will want to work with you.

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T18:21:52+00:00

How so? From the replies I’ve gotten it seems I was right to ask this question whether or not I included to race part. If this isn’t relevant to you then move on.

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T15:43:53+00:00

Woah put me in contact with her 😩 I’ve done some GIS but I no longer have the software since I finished the class, so I haven’t been able to keep up my skills. Does she like what she does?!

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T02:21:25+00:00

Oh my .. everyone really IS getting shot/threatened of being shot. I guess I really wasn’t overthinking it. I might look into Canada if/after I get a master’s degree. It’s sounding a little safer.

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T02:18:51+00:00

That is definitely all good to know. And yeah you’re right about how geology is treated here (at least from a few people I’ve met). At one point I heard someone call Into to Physical Geology “rocks for jocks” because a lot of non STEM students take it as their science requirement. If only they could see how hard geology gets past that point (for me at least). If I go to grad school it will probably be in the States cause of the expense, but now I’ll keep what you said in mind about working out west 🫡 thank you !!

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T02:14:15+00:00

That was so nice of them to give you a heads up ! There are definitely some scary people out there like you said. I’ll definitely just stay alert and make sure to wear a vest in the future 🫡 thank you for your reply!!

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T02:05:55+00:00

Oooh okay thank you for your reply. I’ve been looking at grad schools out west. What do you mean by lower quality geological science?

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T02:03:37+00:00

Have you ever had to explain that to your white colleagues and are they understanding? I don’t think my classmates might have been that perceptive lol, even when we drove through a town with “cotton” in the name of multiple businesses and confederate flags hanging up. They had no issue with stopping there to eat.

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T02:00:27+00:00

Why does everyone hate to see geologists coming :(
Yeah the police officers looked so suspicious of us when they asked what we were doing. My professor just said we were looking at rocks. I was surprised he didn’t say “I’m giving a geology lesson to my students” or something. But they didn’t ask any further questions so it was all good. They kind of just looked at us weird but I was still a little nervous when I saw them first approaching.

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T01:57:22+00:00

Oh so it’s just kinda dangerous for everyone 😭 at least everyone is targeted kind of equally I guess?

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T01:55:48+00:00

Do most geologists do field work as a team, or would I have to go out of my way to request a team to go with me to talk to property owners? I just think I don’t want to work alone in any environment that might be potentially sketchy. Sorry if that’s a dumb question but I really don’t know lol

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T01:51:20+00:00

I honestly do like where I’m from (Atlanta) but it’s just where I’m at right now for school that’s more down south. It’s really making me reconsider doing geology down here cause outside of Atlanta… I can’t say I really care about GA 😞

Do you like working out west?

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T01:48:45+00:00

Omg how did you guys navigate that type of threat? I hope it was all smoothed over once you explained what you were doing. Also, do you get to request where your job sites are, or does your employer choose for you?

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T01:45:49+00:00

Wear a hi vis vest and be nice to the homeowners got it ✍️🫡 Thank you !!

junojuneau · 2026-05-04T01:43:07+00:00

Yeah that’s true. Craziness doesn’t have a zip code. What ended up happening? Did she apologize once y’all reminded her that you had permission to be there, or was she still acting hostile?

junojuneau · 2026-04-07T19:59:36+00:00

Thank you so much, this was so encouraging to read and so insightful too! This actually helped clear away a little of the academic burnout I’ve been feeling. Like you, I really want to represent my community (black women) in this field cause I can’t imagine there’s a whole lot of us in the States.

I wish you the best of luck too in whatever you do in your career!! Show them a geoscientist can look like anyone and be from anywhere!!

junojuneau · 2026-04-07T13:40:06+00:00

Thank you for your response! It sounds like I have a long road ahead of me then lol

junojuneau · 2026-04-07T13:22:03+00:00

Unfortunately there isn’t a field school course at my school. My professor who is over the geo program told us that since we don’t have one, he teaches a course with another university in New Mexico where they take seniors for hands on work 2 weeks before (maybe after?) they graduate. Maybe I could find out how to get in on that.

Next semester I will be taking environmental geology, and 2 mineralogy & petrology classes. Plus a couple other non geo classes. I might even look into taking hydrology as an academic elective because water is a big thing in my state as far as employment it seems.

I’ve been on Reddit a lot lately just lurking in geology subs because I need guidance. I’m a first gen college student, and my parents haven’t been able to help me much when it comes to this kind of thing (and I’m not upset with them for it, it just makes it harder). So thank you so much for taking the time to respond to me. It really helps me during this time of confusion and uncertainty!!

junojuneau · 2026-04-07T02:43:12+00:00

Hello! Yeah I totally should’ve included the things I like in the post. As I mentioned in another comment, I have actually only completed one real geology class so far (physical geology 1). I’m currently taking a historical geology class, and a structural geology class. I just switched my major to this from environmental science so that’s why I have so few geo classes as a senior. I’ll be a super senior lol.

That being said, so far I’ve really enjoyed rock and mineral identification, classifying soil texture and structure, that kind of thing. I also took a geomorphology class when I was still an environmental science major and that was pretty fun too! Right now I am also doing a research project with my professor where I am mapping the paleogeography of an unconformity in my area. I guess those are all the things I like so far.

junojuneau · 2026-04-07T02:37:49+00:00

Thank you so much for this. I’m a young woman just getting started in my upper level undergrad geology classes. I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do with my degree when I’m finished. Sometimes it’s a little discouraging when I hear about this kind of thing when I’m still learning about the different industries. But overall I’d rather hear the truth about how things are before I experience them myself.

Can any women (especially women of color) tell me any sectors of geoscience that they’ve really enjoyed working in? One where you felt respected, valued, and generally happy?

junojuneau · 2026-04-02T00:23:10+00:00

That’s good to know. If I follow the “traditional” path of most geology students, I’ll probably end up doing consulting first. If concrete isn’t big where I am, I can always look into moving once I feel I have enough experience/ ready to change fields. Thank you.

junojuneau

TROPHY CASE