Geoscientists of the Future at 'Girls into Geoscience 2022'

A number of TGGS students from years 10 and 12 were fortunate enough to be able to attend the "Girls into Geoscience 2022" Careers Event at the University of Plymouth,  accompanied by Subject lead for Geology and TGGS Careers Leader, Gordon Neighbour, and Work Experience Coordinator, Sandy Rolfe.

After an inspirational welcome and introduction from Dr Sarah Boulton, University of Plymouth, students were treated to an exciting and varied programme from the following young women professionals who are trail-blazing this vital sector for the UK economy as we move towards a greener and more sustainable future:

• Hydrogeology –a varied life! - Helen Robinson, CGG
• Geology and resources: my career journey - Chrisha Calunod, Sibelco
• Mining –a man’s world? - Amy Everton, British Gypsum

Students were also able to participate in two of the following workshops to get an idea of what varied skills are required in this exciting area of science.

Workshop 1: Palaeoecology, Landscapes, People and Climate – Dr Jessie Woodbridge

Students explored how the fossil remains of plants (pollen) and algae (diatoms) preserved in lake and peat bogs for thousands of years are used to investigate past human-environment interactions and changes in global climate. Getting hands-on experience of examining microfossils using light microscopes and reconstruct 10,000 years of environmental change in just 30 minutes!

Workshop 2: Active faults and GIS– Dr Sarah J Boulton

In this workshop students used a geographic information system (GIS) to investigate digital elevation models (DEMs) of active faults. They got to use some common tools to visualise the tectonic geomorphology of the study areas (e.g., New Zealand) and make measurements of displacement along the fault zone, deepening your knowledge and understanding of structural geology but also how modern techniques can be used in the Earth Sciences.

Workshop 3: Planetary geology & Interplanetary Fieldwork – Dr Natasha Stephen

Geologists don’t just study the Earth! There are other planets and bodies throughout our Solar System that share geological similarities to Earth as well as some very dramatic differences. Volcanoes on Mars are bigger than Mt Everest, they’re much hotter on Venus and even frozen on Jupiter’s moons! Marsquakes are a real thing and we really do have rovers, landers and satellites on planets, moons, comets and asteroids, as well as space rocks here on Earth to study. Students undertook an interplanetary fieldtrip exploring the geology of the Solar System from the luxury of a classroom – no space travel required!

Workshop 4: Discovering the rocks beneath the seafloor: Live Report from a scientist at sea – Dr Michelle Harris

Forming new seafloor at mid-ocean ridges is the start of the plate tectonic cycle and defines much of the Earth’s surface. In this session students were introduced to scientific ocean drilling, one of our key tools for understanding the seafloor. Linking up live with Dr Michelle Harris who is on-board the drillship JOIDES Resolution, the lucky participants ere introduced to how the ship works, life at sea and the scientific objectives of IODP Expedition 393. 

Additionally, there was the opportunity to attend two speaker panels (one about Geoscience courses in particular and one about more general university life). The students came away motivated, excited and buzzing from what they had learnt! Having the opportunity to handle a piece of the Moon and a piece of Mars was such a privilege for our keen and interested scientists!

To find out more about future editions of the workshops, please visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/earth-sciences/girls-into-geoscience