Northern Ireland Exam Results: A Students’ Perspective

As many young people look to future career paths following exam results, we have a special guest blog from Jamie Grattan, a student who is on placement with the Geothermal and Heat Networks Team in the Department for the Economy. Jamie drills down into why geoscience was his chosen subject.  

“For my A levels, I studied geography, physics and biology.  I found during this time that my teachers really were my biggest supporters. Whenever I was struggling with difficult concepts, I knew they would be happy to help me understand. Some even allowed me to come in during study leave, where they talked me through difficult past paper questions. Through them, I discovered an interest in renewable energy and a sustainable future. After careful consideration, I chose to study at Durham University as it would allow me to gain greater independence and explore a new area.  However, I was nervous about the transition. Talking to teachers who had also studied in Durham eased my nerves and encouraged me to pursue my interests there. 

I thought geoscience would be the best fit for me because it encapsulates the favourite parts of my A level subjects. My fascination with renewable energy, particularly geothermal energy, sparked my initial interest in studying geoscience. One of the areas I enjoyed most during school was the fieldwork, from that I knew I wanted a career that would provide me the opportunity to work outside, instead of being bound to a desk every day. It’s great to get hands on practical experience through activities like placements or fieldwork so I would really recommend looking into this when considering future career options.  

Following the first year of my undergraduate degree, I discovered a particular interest in geoinformatics, which involves using software programmes to produce models and maps. I also enjoy igneous and metamorphic petrology where we use microscopes to help us identify interesting minerals under thin section. I love the fact that geoscience is such a broad topic, and we get dip into all aspects of it before we specialise. 

This placement with the Geothermal and Heat Networks Team in the Department for the Economy will provide great insight into a career in the geothermal energy industry. This is important to me as I move into my second year of university to be able to experience career paths I’m hoping to work towards. Career-wise, I haven’t fully decided what I want to specialise in, as there are so many intriguing topics. However, this placement has shown me many exciting prospects within the geothermal energy industry. 

My advice to students is to research the subjects you are interested and what courses are available at university before deciding on your A levels. Talk to your teachers like I did if you need more support. Choosing to go into the subject you are most interested in and enthusiastic about is the best decision you can make, setting you up with a career path that you will enjoy. If you enjoy being outdoors and have a particular interest in the Earth but are unsure of a specific area, geoscience allows you to experience a wide range of topics, helping you decide on your career path.” 

You can access a host of GeoEnergy NI educational resources on the download section of our website or visit our GeoEnergy Discovery Centre to speak to a Geo Ambassador and try our interactive geothermal experiences and technologies: https://geoenergyni.org/demonstrator-projects/#downloads-resources