[2] Her early research looked at the geology of the Stanhope region of the Hunter Valley, near Newcastle.

She would later study mineralogy, geochemistry and the formation of minerals in andesitic rocks within the eastern parts of New South Wales.

[2] Beryl Scott worked as a staff demonstrator during her B.Sc., continuing her study toward an Honours degree.

[2] Scott counted Germaine Joplin as an inspiration to her studies whilst at Cambridge.

She became the foundation Professor of Geology in 1965, only the second woman to be promoted to a Professorial position at that time, after Dorothy Hill of the University of Queensland.

She was appointed Woman of the Year by the NSW branch of the United Nations Association in 1975.

She retired from the University of Newcastle in 1980, intending to join her husband, but Ali El-Nashar died the same year.

She received a Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians in 2001 and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2002 for "service to the community, particularly through raising awareness of issues affecting women, and to education".