Interview with Rick Mitchell

To Return to website click the browser “Back” button   We interviewed a geologist to learn about what he does with water erosion.  We wanted to have a different view on the topic.  Here are our questions and his answers.   Question:  What do you do as a geologist?. 1 Question: What is most erosion caused by?. 1 Question: Do you ever take samples of soil and rock?. 1 Question: What made you want to become a geologist?. 1 Question: Have you worked on any local projects?. 1 Question:  Have you worked on any big projects?. 2 Question: What do you like about being a geologist?. 2 Question: What would you tell to young students that might want to become geologists?. 2

Question:  What do you do as a geologist?

 

Answer:  Well, actually I am a geological engineer, and I do a little bit on where to build houses.  Before you build a house you have to make sure the ground is sturdy and won’t liquefy during an earthquake.

 

Question: What is most erosion caused by?

 

Answer: Water.  You can find examples of rill, gully and sheet erosion pretty much everywhere you look.

 

Question: Do you ever take samples of soil and rock? 

 

Answer: Yes, we look to see how much water is in the earth.

 

Question: What made you want to become a geologist?

 

Answer: I wanted to be a geologist so I could work outside.  First I drew maps for gold miners.  Then I went back to college and found erosion interesting. I became a geological engineer. 

 

Question: Have you worked on any local projects?

 

Answer: I do a lot of drainage work for neighbors.  I have also worked on some highway 101 erosion that has been caused by all the rain we have been having.

                                      

Question:  Have you worked on any big projects?

 

Answer:   I worked on the levies in New Orleans that were hit by Hurricane Katrina.  I took what I learned there and applied to California levies that are beginning to fail. 

 

Question: What do you like about being a geologist?

 

Answer:   I enjoy being outside and flying in helicopters to get to unusual places.

 

Question: What would you tell to young students that might want to become geologists?

 

Answer:  In college you should take science, physics, math and a lot of English.  Most people don’t know geologist actually do a lot of writing and illustrating.  Geology is a lot of guess work, people who like puzzles would love this job.