Geology Jots is a place where I share my experiences as a graduate student and my love for the science of geology. This blog has three goals which are:
- To inform and excite the public about an often overlooked science
- To document life as a graduate student/scientist
- To inspire people (especially young women and girls) to get engaged in science
I became interested in geology when I was very young. For as long as I can remember I have loved to collect rocks, wondering what they were made of and how they formed. In 3rd grade I presented a science fair project on the rock cycle. Despite this, geology was not always an obvious path for me. I encountered many preconceived notions which almost prevented me from being where I am today. I almost didn’t major in geology because a teacher in high school discouraged me from taking classes in the subject stating geology wasn’t a ‘real’ science. It wasn’t until I happened to take a geology class my freshman year of college (the class I was going to take was full) that I realized how wrong my high school teacher was. Geology was complex and fascinating and I was excited to study it. Once I realized this I encountered another problem. Geology required chemistry, physics, and math. I constantly struggled in math leading teachers, classmates, my parents, and even myself to believe I simply wasn’t a math or science person. Guidance from a geophysics professor showed me that nobody is born with an ability or inability to do well in any subject. They are skills that need to be practiced and learned. With this new mindset I became more open-minded about learning and relished the challenges presented to me in classes. As I approached my final year I found I wanted to learn more, especially about the unsolved mysteries of the interior of the earth. I began thinking about graduate school. However, I was afraid I didn’t have what it takes to pursue a PhD. Support from my classmates and advisors encouraged me to give it a try anyway and here I am today! I hope that by sharing my experiences I can refute the assumptions I faced and create a clearer path for young scientists.
I look forward to sharing my adventures with you!
