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The turn of the millenium is for many of us an occasion to
pause and consult the crystal ball. Sedimentary geologists have
added incentive to do so because the calendar event coincides
with a profound change in what one may call our professional
hinterland, the part of society that requires our expertise and
offers jobs.
Sedimentary geology and its sister, paleontology, originated as
historical sciences, dedicated to the study of the sediment record
as a history book of the evolution of life and the changing
environments at the Earth’s surface. To this day, deciphering
earth history remains a principal task of sedimentary geology and
a source of major scientific contributions. However, increased
quantitative understanding of geologic systems and societal
demand have established prediction besides description as an
increasingly important part of the natural sciences. Earth scientists
are expected to deliver predictions of two sorts—prediction in the
space domain, notably the inaccessible subsurface, and prediction
in the time domain, the future behavior of the solid earth and its
fluid envelopes. Sedimentary geologists are involved in both types
of prediction. Exploring for resources such as petroleum, metallic
ores, or drinking water as well as determining the spread of
underground pollution requires mainly prediction in space.
Predicting oceanic and atmospheric climate constitutes the
principal task in the time domain. Prediction in time also includes
catastrophic changes related to ‘‘energy bursts’’ of the solid
Earth, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.
As is typical for the natural sciences, work in sedimentary
geology spans the full range from pure, curiosity-driven research
to applied research driven by the demand of economies. Both
pure and applied research may be relevant for society and may
make fundamental contributions to knowledge. I will first discuss
major challenges in pure research and then make a tour of the
horizon in the applied sector. The latter will take up most space,
because it is an area of major change. I will look back at the
developments since World War II, assess the significance of the
recent turning point, and speculate on opportunities and potential
pitfalls for sedimentary geology in the next few decades.