ENGINEERSAND GEOSCIENTISTSARE PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH

• IDEAS• TECHNOLOGY• INFORMATION • AND PEOPLE

THEY

AND DEVELOP NEW PROCESSES ANDTECHNOLOGIES.

THEIR WORK PROVIDES THEMWITH A HIGH LEVEL OF

RESPONSIBILITY, VARIETY AND

CREATIVITY.

WHAT SKILLSDO YOU NEED TO BE ANENGINEER OR A

GEOSCIENTIST?

Do you like science and math? Do you find yourself often asking “why”? Do you find yourself thinking that there must be a better way to do something? Science and math are an essential part of engineering and geoscience. Chances are, if you enjoy science and math, you would enjoy working in one of these fields. However, engineers and geoscientists work with more than just numbers, equations, rocks and minerals. They are problem solvers, visionaries and outside-the-box thinkers. If you are curious and creative you will excel as an engineer or geoscientist. If you work in the field of earth sciences or engineering you will likely find yourself working on project teams filled with smart and inspiring people. You will be surrounded by experts from many different fields and people from many different backgrounds. As part of a project team, good communication skills are an important tool.

For engineers, problem solving is both challenging and rewarding.

Collaboration with other professionals will lead to innovative ideas and solutions.

Engineers make a difference. They use their imaginations, creativity and expertise to solve

problems and improve the world we live in. They work to prevent pollution, develop new medicines

and create advanced technologies. Engineers work with other professionals like entrepreneurs,

designers, architects and doctors to make the world better and help people live healthier

and safer lives.

Geoscientists are earth scientists. Nearly everything we do each day is connected in

someway to the earth. Geoscientists help us to understand our planet and manage the

resources that it provides us. They work to find and develop resources like petroleum, natural

gas and minerals. They investigate natural earth processes and phenomena like earthquakes,

tsunamis and volcanoes. They study fossils, explore space and investigate the ocean floor.

Geoscientists work to understand how the earthaffects us and how we affect the earth.

WHAT DOENGINEERS AND

GEOSCIENTISTSDO?Connect with the earth and help

to unravel its many mysteries.

Design and develop exciting new technologies that will change the world.

ENGINEER GEOPHYSICIST

$ 200,000

GEOLOGIST

$ 150,000

$ 100,000

$ 50,000

$ 0

New Graduate 20 Years’ Experience

$67,0

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14

6,0

00

$70,0

00$

15

5,0

00

$1

63

,00

0$6

6,000

The work of engineers and geoscientists is both challenging and rewarding. There are countless innovative and exciting opportunities across Canada and around the world for professionals in these fields. Men and women who are bright, knowledgeable and creative are needed for these jobs.

What engineers and geoscientists design, build and find impacts our daily lives. Technology is advancing at a rapid rate. Highly skilled, qualified professionals are needed to meet these advances now and make our world a better place to live in.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

As engineers and geoscientists gain experience, they become more valuable to employers. Their compensation rises with experience and the value of their contribution.

A CAREER WITH AFUTURE

LET’S TALK $$$

SCHOLARSHIPSAND AWARDS

EDUCATION,

EDUCATION

A degree in engineering, geology or geophysics normally requires four years of

university education. A five-year degree, which includes the equivalent of one year

of paid, supervised work experience, is also available at some universities.

(i.e., co-op program or internship program)

You require an advanced high school diploma (Chemistry 30, Physics 30, English 30, Pure Math 30 and Math 31, or their equivalents)

for entrance to most universities.

Entrance requirements vary slightly between universities, so you should contact the

appropriate university department for information on student quotas and

average required marks.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

Scholarship information is available on university websites or you can contact the university registrar’s office directly. You may be able to obtain scholarship and awards information from your school office.

With hard work and determination there will be many opportunities

for advancement.

Do you want to fight illness, cleanup pollution, design cool gadgets, make video games or find solutions to problems? Do you dream of spending your days outside? Perhaps you see yourself working in an office or boardroom? A degree in engineering, geology or geophysics can provide you with endless career possibilities. With this diverse range of careers comes an equally diverse range of work environments. You could work anywhere from an office to outer space. You could hone your craft in a lab or on a construction site. You could find yourself working on a drilling platform in the middle of the ocean or building a bridge on another continent. As an engineer or geoscientist, the future is yours to design.

WORKATMOSPHERE

It isn’t necessary for you to decide right away which area you would like to specialize in. In most cases, you have until the second year of university to consider the alternatives. Investigate jobs available to graduates of engineering and geosciences.

WHAT TYPE OFENGINEERING OR GEOSCIENCE IS FOR YOU?

Work on exciting projects like the design and development of the Canadarm.

Make a difference around the world by developing systems to provide clean water to millions of people.

Work anywhere. On land or at sea, engineers and geoscientists have a world of opportunities.

Do you love concerts and music? Have you

wondered why a song can sound so different

depending on where you are listening

to it? Acoustics engineering is a blend

of art and science. These engineers work

to understand how sound is affected by

materials and surroundings.

ACOUSTICS ENGINEERING

ENGINEERINGCHEMICAL

Have you ever wondered who invented the disposable diaper?

What about Gore-Tex or synthetic rubber? Chemical engineers are

responsible for the invention of everything from the fertilizers used to grow

food to technical fabrics for use by elite athletes. They apply the principles

of chemistry to solve problems, converting raw materials into finished

products. Chemical engineers work in countless industries where their

impact is tremendous. They can be found everywhere from

pharmaceutical companies working to develop the latest medication for

cancer patients to cosmetic companies working to develop the next trend

in eye shadow. A chemical engineer’s impact is varied and widespread.

“Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been.’’ -Albert Einstein

ENGINEERINGCHEMICAL

Are you interested in planning, design and construction?

Civil engineers design and build many of the things

we take for granted every day, like highways, transit

systems, bridges and tunnels. But did you know that

civil engineers are also responsible for some of the fun

things in life? Civil engineers have designed, planned

and built everything from cruise ships and skateboard

parks to rotating high rises and roller coasters. Civil

engineers have worked on the most spectacular and

high-profile structures around the world. For example,

civil engineers were part of the team that designed and

built the London Eye, a giant ferris wheel that can

hold up to 800 people per revolution and is

135 metres in height.

CIVILENGINEERING

CHave you ever considered life without

computers? Without the internet?

Without Facebook? Our daily lives would

be significantly different without the

contributions from computer engineers.

They have developed systems for air

traffic control, programs for animation

and special effects in the music and

film industries, and social networking

applications like Facebook and Twitter.

Computer engineers are on the

cutting edge of technology, creatively

solving problems in nearly every facet of

our daily lives.

COMPUTERENGINEERING

ELECTRICALENGINEERING

ENGINEERINGAre you interested in a career that could

take off like a rocket? Electrical engineering

provides a universe of possibilities. In fact,

electrical engineers work within

teams that send rockets into space. It is

electrical engineers that develop and test

the electrical systems for many amazing and

out-of-this-world inventions. The famous

Canadarm, a mechanical arm used on the

space shuttle, was developed in part by

electrical engineers. But their work is not

limited to rockets and space ships. They also

develop components for some of the most

critical things in our lives like life support

systems in hospitals, airbags in vehicles and

communication systems. These creative and

innovative engineers also work within the

teams that design and develop fun things

like MP3 players, rides at amusement parks

and digital cameras.

ENVIRONMENTALENGINEERING

Are you passionate about all things eco and

green? Do you want to make a difference in the

lives of future generations? Perhaps environmental

engineering is for you. Environmental

engineers apply the principles of science and

engineering to improve the environment.

They develop and design water management

systems; find new and efficient methods of

recycling; use environmental science to protect

wildlife and preserve our natural environments.

Environmental engineers work across disciplines

to solve problems. They can work on very specific

problems like municipal waste management

systems or on larger scale issues like global

warming. Environmental engineers are influential

team members who work to find ways to reduce air

pollution, prevent the melting of the polar ice cap

and ultimately save the polar bears.

ENVIRONMENTALENGINEERING

“The engineer has been, and is, a maker of history.” -James Kip (Engineer)

ENGINEERING

Do you have the right stuff? As a materials

engineer your job could be to create

the right stuff. Materials engineers

create or identify the best materials for

a specific job. For example, you might

create a shock absorbent material for

the latest running shoe, or identify the

right kind of steel beam to be used in the

construction of a bridge.

Material engineers work within teams to

develop primary materials, to process

materials, and to manufacture final

products. These talented engineers have

even developed biomaterials that help

heal diseased and damaged human

body parts, contributing to the health and

quality of life for many people.ENGINEERING

Are you fascinated with anything

that has moving parts? Would you

like to help design motorcycles or

railways? Remote control cars

or giant cranes?

MECHANICALAs a mechanical engineer,

you might develop a child’s toy or

a life-saving medical device like a

pacemaker, or you might even study

the biomechanics of the human body.

Mechanical engineers rely on their

creativity, ingenuity and problem

solving skills. Thinking outside of

the box to design a more

fuel efficient car or

MECHANICALimproving athletic performance is

part of a mechanical engineer’s

repertoire.

ENGINEERING

PETROLEUMENGINEERING

Oil and gas is one of Alberta’s largest

industries. Petroleum engineers design and

operate the complex drilling and production

operations that maximize the recovery of oil

and gas from thousands of feet beneath the

earth’s surface. Their impact does not stop

at the gas we put in our car. Petroleum

engineers work with resources that are

essential in the production of everything

from prosthetic limbs to telephones. In fact,

for every 42-gallon barrel of oil, less than

half ends up as gasoline. The rest, called

petroleum by-products (petrochemical

feedstocks), are used as building blocks to

create things like nail polish, life jackets,

shaving cream, balloons and roller skates.

Petroleum engineers are leaders in the quest

of cost savings when using Alberta’s vast

heavy oil resources.

PETROLEUMENGINEERING

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FAMOUS ENGINEERING FEATS!

1. The Canadarm (1974 – 1981) Canada’s most famous robotic and technological achievement; it has the ability to capture a free-floating payload in a zero-gravity environment. Space, Milky Way

3. Confederation Bridge (1993 – 1997) spans the Abegweit Passage of NorthumberlandStrait, linking Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick, Canada. PEI, Canada

2. Hoover Dam (and Three Gorges Dam) (October 30th, 2008) is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. Black Canyon of the Colorado Canyon

7. The St Lawrence Seaway(1954 – 1959) is a series of locks, canals, and channels that permits ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes of Canada. Ontario, Canada

Leonardo Davinci (1452 ñ 1519)ENGINEER

Thomas Edison (1847 ñ 1519)

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

Julie PayetteBorn 1963CANADIAN ENGINEER AND A CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY ASTRONAUT

Roberta BondarBorn 1945

CANADAíS FIRST FEMALE ASTRONAUT

FAMOUS ENGINEERS

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FAMOUS ENGINEERING FEATS!6. Large Hadron Collider (2009) is the world’s largest and highest-energy particle accelerator. Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, Switzerland

4. Burj Dabai (Dubai Tower) (2004 – 2010) is currently the tallest structure in the world!Dubai, United Arab Emirates

5. Natural Gas Pipeline (2008) Canada’s crude oil and natural gas pipeline network extends 700,000 kilometers throughout Canada and is composed of pipelines and associated facilities. Canada

9. Trans Canada Airline(1937 – present) was created when no large national airline existed and provided trans-Atlantic military passenger and postal delivery services. The record crossing was completed non-stop in 12:26 hours. In 1964, the name was changed to Air Canada. Earth

8. Netherlands Delta Works(1950 – 2010) the Delta Works is one of the most impressive structures in the world with its hydraulic system that improves water balance which protects Netherlands from storms and high sea levels. Netherlands

FAMOUS ENGINEERS

10. Millau Viaduct (2001 – 2004) is a cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France. Millau-Creissels, France

Are you curious about the processes that shape the

earth, from the tops of mountains to the depths of

oceans? Do you love all things that sparkle and

shine? Would you like to be part of a team that

discovers a deposit of diamonds? Geologists

are like detectives who investigate what happened

thousands, millions or even billions of years ago.

Geologists are constantly asking questions about the

world around us and trying to find the best method

for explaining what they see.

GEOLOGY

They work to find new mineral sources, explore the movement of the

earth’s crust, and help predict natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic

eruptions and tidal waves. Geologists were integral to the discovery of

diamond deposits in Canada. There are currently four working diamond

mines in Canada and geologists are leading the charge in a quest to

find more possible deposits in the Great White North. If you love to

work outside and apply science to solve problems, perhaps you should

consider a career in geology.

GEOLOGY:the scientific study of the origin, history, structure and composition of the earth.

Would you like to work with explosives, computers, maps,

and radar devices? These are a few of the tools that

geophysicists use in order to do their job. Geophysicists

apply what they know about the earth and atmosphere to

solve problems. They study everything from earthquakes and

volcanoes to environmental hazards, mineral deposits and

geothermal energy sources. Geophysicists use sophisticated

equipment to design and perform experiments and

understand the laws of nature. Some geophysicists spend

most of their time outdoors or in the field. Others work in the

lab using computers for modeling and calculations.

GEOPHYSICS

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WANT MOREINFORMATION?

Talk about it. Your school counsellors or teachers can help.

Discuss your career plans with your parents.

Attend school career event.

Talk to professional engineers or geoscientists about what they do.

Investigate. Examine university calendars. Attend university open houses. Contact the registrar or faculty you’re interested in to discuss prerequisites and courses required to complete a degree.

Check it out. Visit your school or public library to learn more about these professions. Visit university and other related websites. Visit the APEGA Outreach website at www.apega.ca

Contact APEGA at one of the offices listed on this page. Request other career publications. Ask a member of the Outreach Program to talk to you or other students at your school about careers in engineering and geoscience.

Email: email@apega.ca

Website: www.apega.ca

Calgary OfficeToll free 1-888-262-3688Phone (403) 262-7714Fax (403) 269-2787

Edmonton Head OfficeToll free 1-800-661-7020Phone (780) 426-3990Fax (780) 425-1722