Who is the best geologist?

Answer 1

Your question is kind of broad since geology is comprised of such a wide spectrum of careers, but here are a few of the most renowned geologists in history:

James Hutton - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hutton

Charles Lyell - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lyell

Alfred Wegener - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Wegener

Here's a list of other famous geologists: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_geologists

The majority of work that geologists perform today is based on the discoveries of these people.

There are many different jobs that geologists perform today, but I'd say that the "best" geologists of today are those who dedicate their lives to the study of environmental sustainability and the prediction/prevention of geologic hazards. Geologists involved with the oil industry are generally the highest paid in the field, but some may not consider these to be the "best" geologists because of their affiliation with oil companies and how detrimental they are to the environment. Many of the best geologists today work for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). http://www.usgs.gov/