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I spent a month in the Inner Hebrides for my mapping project
I spent a month in the Inner Hebrides for my mapping
project
Billy Drury - Star Students 2015
23/07/2015
Billy Drury, 22, from Middlesbrough, graduated with first-class Honours from the BSc
(Hons) Geology (http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/105-bsc-hons-geology) and was
awarded the Certificate of Excellence.
His plan now is to specialise in structural geology and geophysics through postgraduate
research, and then pursue a career as a structural geologist.
Why Geology?

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Why Geology?
I love the hands-on applied nature of geology. It's all about implementing the theory you
learn to interpret data out in the field or back in the lab. It is also a very broad subject that
leads to many unique career paths. USW’s Geology degree caught my eye as it is one of the
most applied earth science courses in the country – this was key for me as I wanted to learn
and develop practical skills I would use in my future career.
Amazing field trips
I spent a month in the Inner Hebrides for my individual mapping project. The wide range of
practical skills I learned as a result, such as carrying out geophysical surveys and seismic
interpretation, were the most valuable parts of the course.
I also travelled to Iceland and Sicily during my second and third years for my volcanology
and field skills modules. We also visited Pembrokeshire, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall, and
attended conferences in London and at the British Geological Survey
(http://www.bgs.ac.uk/) headquarters in Nottingham.
Dissertation
My dissertation was an in-depth, quantitative study of geological structure within the pre-
Cambrian rocks of The Isle of Raasay, Inner Hebrides. I used data that I collected from brittle
and ductile structures in the field to estimate crustal shortening and to unravel the long
tectonic history of the island.
I would advise anyone interested in a geology/earth science related career to consider this
course. The small class sizes are a huge bonus - you can make excellent relationships with
your classmates and with the lecturers.
Plus, not only is the course dedicated to teaching industry-applicable skills, it will also give
you in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of geology. You'll also find that the lecturers
in the department are extremely easy to interact with and will offer all the support you
need."

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