Author: jenebauer

Taylor Rand, Biology undergraduate student

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A young woman holding a green insect on her hand while smiling.
Me posing with a gorgeous green katydid!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I am a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Ecological and Evolutionary Biology at the University of South Florida. I have a big love for insects and a fascination with the story of evolution and the way that it has shaped everything that we see around us today.

Outside of academics, I really enjoy reading fantasy novels, hiking, collecting insects, playing tennis, and drawing different animals!

What kind of scientist are you and what do you do? In the past year, I’ve had incredible opportunities to explore two fascinating areas of science: virology and paleontology. My first research experience was working on annotating the genomes of four newly discovered bacteria viruses, called bacteriophages. Annotating genomes is a matter of cross-referencing online gene databases and reference genomes of other viruses to determine the functions of individual genes in an organism’s entire genetic sequence. A group of peers and I were then able to analyze a specific set of reproductive genes in one of our phages, called the lysis cassette. These are the genes that break down the cell wall of the host bacteria cell for reproduction. The order and quantity of these genes is wildly varied across bacteriophage genomes. We were testing the hypothesis that our bacteriophage would possess a unique composition of its lysis cassette as compared to other bacteriophages. We found that the specific order, quantity, and length of the genes in our bacteriophage’s lysis cassette was entirely unique compared to its relative viruses. The end goal of this bacteriophage genome project is to better understand why these lysis cassette genes diversified in such a way.

A group of five people smiling for a photo together in front of a research poster about bacteriophages.
Me and my peers worked together to create this poster that we presented at our university’s undergraduate research conference.

I’ve also recently begun a project in a paleontology lab that will provide some insight into the regional diversity of marine animals during the Mississippian Period, around 359–323 million years ago. I’m currently working on the first step of the project, which is simply separating the grain sizes of the sediment collected from Mississippian-age rocks in southern Illinois, USA to begin to identify the fossils present.

What is your favorite part about being a scientist, and how did you get interested in science? I have always loved animals, and I always knew I wanted to go into an animal science field before I could comprehend what science was. When I got older and realized that people out there spent their whole careers studying animals and the ways they work and interact with the world, I knew that had to be me. I became interested in insects, in particular, when I read a book about them and realized just how underappreciated they are. We see so many insects every day, but most people tend not to regard them much. Even worse, we know so little about so many of them! I knew I wanted to go into the entomology field and contribute to knowing more about these animals. Every research experience I’ve had so far has broadened the way I now imagine one could study insects—from virology to paleontology, everything applies! My favorite part about science is the exciting feeling I get when I ask “why” and no one has an answer–it’s knowing that the story has yet to be finished, and all I want to do is figure out how it ends!

How does your work contribute to the betterment of society in general? I hope that the research I have contributed to thus far will better our understanding of the world around us and the evolutionary history that has led to it. Understanding the diversity in things as small as bacteriophage reproductive genes may help us to develop effective medical applications to treat bacterial infections and understanding the past diversity patterns of extinct fauna helps us better comprehend the changes that can impact our past and present climate and ecosystems.

What advice do you have for up-and-coming scientists? The best advice I can think of is to not let the fear of rejection or inadequacy hold you back. The absolute worst you can get back from asking about an opportunity is a ‘no’, which pales in comparison to the absolute best you could get back. You can’t let your own idea of how smart or capable a scientist should be hold you back from what you want to do. You are more than capable of pushing past those times that you mess up or feel unqualified.

Elizabeth Altier, Masters Student

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a woman toasts the camera with a paper cup. She has short blue and blonde hair, tied back, a grey t-shirt, and smile on her face; she sits at a wooded table with grassy salt marsh and blue sky behind her.
Nice to meet you!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. My name is Elizabeth, and I use she/her. I’m currently pursuing a Masters in Geosciences from the University of South Florida. I grew up in upstate New York, near Ithaca, and hold a B.A. in Geology from Oberlin College. My hobbies include arts and crafts of all kinds (most recently, I started glassblowing!), baking, and videogames. I love museums, libraries, and driving long distances for things I could get at home.

What kind of scientist are you and what do you do? I’m a paleontologist! My undergraduate research investigated the systematics of Turritella, a cone-shaped species of sea snail. Turritella is a very common fossil, and thus has been identified and reidentified many times. Our group set out to find which of these identifications were true and represented distinct groups of organisms, and which ones were the same species under separate names (or different species under the same name), not to mention if Turritella in the fossil record could even be identified to a species level. To answer these questions , I measured and described a lot of specimens from types, a distinction used for the first named and described specimen that provide the reference for all the ones of the same species discovered after, and published figures. I’ve also spent a significant amount of time in museums—most recently, I helped curate a collection of oysters from Louisiana belonging to the Paleontological Research Institution. Now, I’m in my first semester of my master’s degree, studying invertebrate paleontology at USF.

woman with blonde and blue hair, white mask, and a blue shirt. She is standing in front of Acrocanthosaurus skull, a large therapod dinosaur with sharp teeth.
Two earthlings, Acrocanthasaurus and me.

What is your favorite part about being a scientist, and how did you get interested in science? Like many others in this field, I was a kid who loved dinosaurs who grew into an adult who loved fossils. I remember demanding that my kindergarten teacher spell paleontologist for me when we learned about careers. As a college freshman, I took an introductory geology class and was hooked. I was very lucky to be supported by a family to whom science is very important – in fact, inspired by my love of dinosaurs, my mother started working as a museum educator. I spent a few years after graduating from my undergraduate institution, serving with the AmeriCorps program City Year and working in a library, but I’m glad to be back. I love being a scientist! I love being able to think and ask questions and solve puzzles for a living.

How does your work contribute to the betterment of society in general? With an accurate understanding of their species, Turritella can be a great index fossil. Index fossils are used to identify and date the rock layers in which they are found, and, to be useful index fossils, they must be common, widespread, and have been around for a relatively short slice of history. If Turritella can be used to provide precise and accurate temporal information of the many, many rock layers they are in, we can use them to understand the history of an area more broadly. For example, finding Turritella of the same species in two distant rock outcrops shows us that they are the same layer and allows us to say with specificity how many millions of years ago that layer was formed. This, ultimately, helps fill in puzzle pieces of our knowledge of the earth. I think just being a scientist in the world helps society, too- being able to show people the complexity of the earth in little moments really matters.

What advice do you have for up and coming scientists? Two things: one, people want to help you. Many scientists remember when they were you, just starting out. Finding a mentor is worth it. Two, there is a place here for everyone. I remember being hesitant about geology because I’m not super outdoorsy and field camps can be inaccessible for me; when I learned could work predominantly in the lab or museums, it changed a lot for me. There are a lot of ways to be a paleontologist that are not the “traditional” way. The usual stuff sort of advice, too. Try new things. There is no time limit on this. Be enthusiastic. Be patient. Be kind. You got this.

two women, both wearing jeans and t shirts, masks, and gardening gloves, pass a cardboard box between them. The one on the left stands in the back of a tractor trailer, the one on the right in the back of a pickup truck.
Sometimes paleontology is moving a hundred boxes of oysters out of the back of a tractor trailer. Photo from Bridget Kelly.

North American Paleontological Convention (NAPC): University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (17-21 June 2024)

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Front cover of the program and abstract volume for the conference event.
Figure 1: The NAPC program schedule for the meeting.

The North American Paleontological Convention (NAPC) has been a cornerstone event in the paleontological community since 1969. Taking place every four to six years at various prestigious institutions across North America, it brings together scientists and researchers from all areas of paleontology. This inclusive format provides an excellent platform for developing new research directions and establishing connections with colleagues that you might not otherwise have met. This year, at the 12th NAPC at the University of Michigan, there were over 700 delegates and presentation abstracts making for a fun-filled week in Ann Arbor!

Prior to attending the convention, I was deeply impressed by the commitment of the Paleontology Society to creating a respectful and inclusive environment. I was able to complete the PS RISE (Paleo Society Respectful and Inclusive Scientific Event) training online and served as a RISE liaison during the meeting. As a PhD student who still finds conferences rather overwhelming and anxiety-inducing, having this support present at the event was immensely comforting to me.

The conference kicked off on Monday morning with a half-day plenary session titled “Paleontology for All,” that completely blew me away. The collection of talks in this session were incredibly thought-provoking, addressing critical issues of colonialism and systemic racism rooted within paleontology, as well as introducing the limits of “global” data, discussions of fossils as the key to understand our ever-changing planet, and the incredible work of paleo-artists. These talks really inspired me, and made me think about ways to reframe aspects of my paleobiology lectures and labs that I teach to undergraduate students here at the University of Victoria.

Auditorium room with half circular seating arrangement with a semi circular stage in the center.
Figure 2: NAPC opened with a half-day plenary session, “Paleontology for All”, held in the Rackham Auditorium. This event was open to the public and live-streamed for remote access.

Throughout the week, I attended numerous sessions covering a wide range of topics, including:

  • A model system for evolution and environmental change: the marine communities of the Neogene western Atlantic
  • Integrated approaches to exploring coupled biotic, landscape and climate dynamics
  • Proxies, sedimentological indicators, and biotic effects of oceanic anoxic events in the geological record
  • Recent advances in computational paleobiology

The talks I attended were exceptional and really broadened the scope of my own research, providing several novel avenues to explore.

I presented my research in the session: “Answering big questions with small fossils: high-resolution biodiversity dynamics in deep time” with a talk titled ‘Investigating the responses of deep-sea sediments to Cenozoic paleoclimate and paleoceanographic events using data synthesis and the eODP project’. In this talk, I explained the preliminary results of the first chapter of my PhD, looking at using large databases of scientific ocean drilling data to address how and why sedimentation patterns have changed across significant climate transitions in the Cenozoic. Despite my talk being rather different compared to other talks in this session, I feel like it was well-received and sparked some intriguing questions. It also allowed me to practice speaking to people who were not necessarily familiar with my methodologies or overarching concepts, which really helped with my science communication skills.

Sunset picture from a beach location on the harbor waters. Cityscape is in the background and a beach in the foreground.
Figure 3: Belle Isle Park, Detroit
Waterway image with trees and a river in the back and middle ground and a bridge in the foreground that the person taking the image is standing on.
Figure 4: The B2B trail in Ann Arbor.

In addition to the amazing science at the conference, I also got the time to run along the B2B trail in Ann Arbor, explore parts of Detroit, and even attend a concert at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. Overall, attending NAPC was a wonderfully enriching experience. I am so grateful for the opportunity and for Time Scavengers for helping to make this possible. I look forward to participating in future conferences to discuss the results of this PhD chapter further. Thank you, NAPC, for an unforgettable week!

Katie Jamson, Micropaleontologist

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Background is a bright blue cloudless sky with dark trees on the horizon line. The foreground has a person in a kayak with another kayak paddle close to the bottom of the image.
Kayaking in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Originally from the United Kingdom, I made the exciting move to Canada in 2021 to pursue my PhD. Since arriving here, I have become a keen runner both on the road and on the trails (dodging the bears and cougars!). I enjoy any activities outdoors including hiking, kayaking, and have even explored parts of British Columbia by canoe. I have also started truly immersing myself into Canadian culture by regularly watching hockey and I now avidly support the Vancouver Canucks! Living in Victoria on Vancouver Island has deepened my connection with the ocean, fostering a profound appreciation for this stunning place that I am lucky enough to call home. I am fortunate enough to be living on the traditional territories of the Lkwungen (Lekwungen) peoples whose historical relationships with the land still continue to this day.

Background is blue sky, green tree filled hill side with foreground being dark choppy water with a canoe with two people. The front person is holding their paddle above their head.
Portaging around the Powell River Lake Circuit, British Columbia.

What kind of scientist are you and what do you do? As a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria, I specialize in utilizing extensive microfossil datasets from the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) to unravel the complex relationships between the world’s oceans and climate over the past 65 million years. I use these datasets to generate maps of how microfossils such as planktic foraminifera, diatoms, and radiolarians have influenced deep ocean sedimentation patterns and how this relationship has changed over time. I do this using well constrained models of the Earth’s tectonic movements through the Cenozoic (~66 million years ago to present day). Additionally, two of my PhD chapters focus on the Miocene (~23-5 million years ago) where I am conducting work in the laboratory. Here, I am processing IODP deep sea drilling cores from different ocean basins to investigate how climate and tectonic shifts during this dynamic period of time have impacted upon ocean sedimentation and plankton ecology. I do this primarily by looking at abundance counts of the different carbonate- and silica-producing organisms present in the samples.

Person in a laboratory setting looking through a microscope.
Looking at an IODP sample under the microscope.

What is your favorite part about being a scientist, and how did you get interested in science? I have always had an interest in both geography and biology growing up, however, my first field trip to Iceland in 2012 was what really inspired me to study for my undergraduate degree at the University of Exeter, England, in physical geography. Here, I specialised in peatland ecosystems and reconstructing past environments over the last ~8000 years, tracking ash cloud movements across Europe. I achieved this by looking at crypto-tephra, which are microscopic fragments of volcanic ash that are incredibly well-preserved in peatland environments across the globe. During this degree, I fell in love with being able to get a snapshot of what the world would have looked like in the past, and I went on to get my Masters in Paleobiology at the University of Bristol. This is where I moved into deep-sea micropaleontology and studying the evolution of planktic organisms over much longer time periods. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a scientist is engaging with my peers and discussing our research together. As the first paleontology student in my department at the University of Victoria, I had a unique perspective of only being able to converse with colleagues about my work who were on the peripheries of my field. As a result, I gained incredible insight and learned so much from others that have allowed me to approach my work in a more holistic way.

Person in a field holding a block thak that is covered in dirt.
This is me during my undergraduate research holding a peat core section on Dartmoor, England.

How does your work contribute to the betterment of society in general? Studying the impact of climate upon planktic evolution and sedimentation rates through periods of warming and cooling across our global oceans provides critical insights into how marine ecosystems and environments might respond to future warming scenarios. By studying these historic patterns, we can better anticipate and understand the potential impacts of climate change on our oceans. I have the privilege of sharing these findings and interests, not only at conferences but also through my teaching role. As an instructor for laboratory sections in Paleobiology and Geological Oceanography classes, I teach third year undergraduate students in exploring the profound importance and influence of extinction events, tectonic processes, and oceanographic changes on evolution—from the earliest life forms to those that persist to the present day.

What advice do you have for up and coming scientists? Everyone in academia is intelligent, stand out by being kind 😊

Victoria Pavlovics, Graduate Student and Rock Magnetist

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Victoria’s shipboard role is being a paleomagnetist.

Field work summer of ’22, Central Mongolia. The research team discusses structural geology problems. Victoria joined as a member of the Utah Paleomagnetic Center at the University of Utah.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Describe your hobbies and interests outside of science. I spend a lot of time outdoors; skiing, hiking, rollerblading or skateboarding. I also read lots of fantasy books and enjoy listening to live music. I try to travel as often as I can and immerse myself in different cultures.

What kind of scientist are you and what do you do? I am a graduate student and I identify as a Rock Magnetist. I analyze the magnetic properties of rocks and minerals to learn more about geological processes, environmental conditions, and the history of Earth’s magnetic field. I am passionate about early geoscience education. I spent a year working with a local middle school, bringing hands-on experiments and facilitating field trips revolving around earth science and geology. I volunteer at outreach events as often as I can. 

Field work summer of ’22, Central Mongolia. Another image of the research team discussing geology.
Field work summer of ’22, Central Mongolia. I am using a Brunton to take an oriented hand sample for paleomag (to interpret the magnetic signal of the Earth from deep time).

What is your favorite part about being a scientist, and how did you get interested in science? I have a very non-linear path. I took a few years off between high school and college, working at a local bar with no thought about higher education. I decided to go back to school and entered college as an anthropology major, took one geology course and fell in love. Our Geoclub held field trips every long weekend, where I was able to spend time camping outside with friends and learning about rocks. It is those moments that made me want to become a geologist. I also have an undergraduate degree in anthropology. I try to use it as often as possible, with my senior thesis being an archeo-magnetic study on Floridan potsherds. I am also currently involved in geoarchaeology research on roman concrete. I am president of Energy Club (an adaption of AAPG) at the University of Utah. With this club, I coordinate monthly seminars with industry professionals with the aim of teaching undergraduate student’s transferable skills (importance of machine learning in geoscience, adobe Illustrator for figure making, etc) and sharing career trajectories (hosting career panels filled with government, industry, and academics). We also hold a yearly department poster session with monetary awards for both graduate and undergraduate students. This coming year, we hope to hold an “earth science art exhibit” where students and professors can show off their artistic side with paintings of field sites, ‘beautiful’ data sets, and even a ‘bake your thesis’ category. 

Field work in the Tetons in Wyoming, we had to get helicoptered in and we camped on the ice!

How did you learn about scientific ocean drilling? I told my advisor I would love to be on a research vessel and he shared with me the call for a paleomagnetist for this expedition.

How does your work contribute to the betterment of society in general? Magneto stratigraphy helps us date sediments. Rock magnetism can tell us about the strength and direction of the magnetic field at a certain time and location. It is also used to better understand tectonic processes. 

More field photos from the ice after we helicoptered in. ! I assisted a friend with their work, acting as a geotech as they cored lake sediments for paleoclimate studies.

What advice do you have for prospective scientists? It truly is for anyone! People from all different backgrounds find their way into geoscience.

Have you received a piece of advice from your friends/mentors/advisors that has helped you navigate your career? Don’t be in a rush. Do what makes you excited, doing it fast while stressed out helps no one.

Camping and conducting research on the ice.

 

Maria Filomena Loreto, Physical Properties Expert

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Background includes the ocean and various aspects on a research vessel. The foreground has people holding a core that was pulled from the ocean floor with one person cutting a section of the core.
I’m on board a research vessel. We carried out a gravity core during an oceanographic cruise and I’m cutting the core into 1-meter-long subsections. 

I’m a marine geologist thus interested in studying of solid Earth. Particularly, my research activity is focused in studying the evolution over time of our submerged Earth system, in this case taking attention on how deep basins, forming at the rear of a mountain chains and named back-arc basins, forms and their relationships with volcanoes or magma upwelling. Over this my interest are toward the various geological risks that can affect our life and that are earthquakes 

and related tsunamis, landslides and tectonically- or climate change-controlled sea level changes. I realize these studies integrating the geophysical methods with geological information coming from sampled sediments. Geophysical methods are based on instruments (multibeam swath bathymetry, high-resolution sub-bottom profiles, single and multichannel seismic data) that allow to investigate the seafloor and the sub-seafloor rocks. The seafloor morphology in back-arc basins is more complex than one might imagine: here seafloor can reach depth over 4000 m below seafloor, and there are numerous submerged mountains that can be of volcanic- or tectonic-origin and can have dimensions sometimes huge. Between these mountains several canyons, sometimes hundred km long, flow from the coast to the oceanic deep moving enormous quantities of sediments. Deep basins or back-arc basins are formed as a consequence of the convergence between two plates or block of continents. The force generated by the convergence push the denser and heavier, even if thinner, oceanic crust to sink under the other oceanic crust (see the Mariana system) or continental crust (see the Apennine system) which, being less dense, floats. The subducting oceanic crust, called a slab, retreats as it sinks, forcing the upper continental or oceanic crust to follow it. This means that a block of crust breaks away from the continent and drifts, creating the conditions for magma to rise. The break is realized throughout the formation of discontinuities or faults generating earthquakes and, being 

submerged, the energy released is able to trigger tsunamis. Sometimes the fragmentation of rocks creates conditions of gravitational instability that trigger landslides and gas emissions. Furthermore, seismic images of the rocks have revealed particular events associated with the lowering of the sea floor during past ice eras. Identifying and analyzing the frequency, recurrence, intensity of these events in the past, and how the Earth system reacts to these thermal changes will help better constrain modeling of future global changes. All these events and phenomena are recorded within sediments, thus by drilling and sampling it we are able to identify them and date. Combining these information with the seismic images of the subseafloor and with the seabed we can reconstruct the history of submerged continental margins and of deep basins, and also do paleo-climate reconstruction. All these studies improve risk analysis and make the lives of people and animals safer. Knowing our earth system allows us to adequately protect it.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and describe your hobbies and interests outside of science. Outside of science I have a passion for dance. In my life I have practiced different types of dance: modern and jazz dance, southern dance, african dance and recently I started pole dancing. This also inspired me to create a performance that combines pole dancing with science, which speaks to the health of the sea. The pole dancer moves in a volume of air as fishes move in a volume of water. I also like fashion and art.I love cats, I love them like children and I cried a lot and I still cry for the loss of my cat named Tiger. Two years after his death I got another cat, she is female, and I am in love again.

What kind of scientist are you and what do you do? Describe what your role is and your title; this can be on the ship and/or in your current career. I am a first level researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences – National Research Council. I carry out all the activities ranging from writing a proposal, to participating in the oceanographic cruise in order to collect data, processing, analysis and finally writing an article or presentations of results. On board I often play the role of head of mission, but I also take part in technical operations, such as deployment and recovery of the seismic system, core sampling, morphobathymetric acquisition.

Do you use proxy data for research? What are those proxy data? The paleo-morphology of the seafloor to have evidence for climate change. Foramnifera to date sediment layers and turbidites to date earthquakes. Chemism of magmatic rocks to have information on processes that occur in the earth interior.

Background is an office setting with a screen showing scientific results. The person in the foreground is pointing at this screen with results and is smiling.
I’m working in my office. I am analyzing the high-resolution image of the seabed looking for structures capable of generating earthquakes or evidence of climate changes that occurred in the past (paleoclimatic study). 

Do you conduct outreach, and if so, who do you communicate science to? Not systematically. Occasionally, I take part to events and with my dance and science performance, or a geophysical lab we have created (bathymetric maps, map of submerged risks, seismic method)

What is your favorite part about being a scientist, and how did you get interested in science? My favorite part is the beginning. When I was young, before university, I read popular magazines and one day I read about a large oceanographic ship that went out to sea collecting data to explore the depths of the ocean in order to understand the processes that allowed its evolution. I was so fascinated by it that I decided to enroll in the faculty of geology with the idea of going to sea. But I was at the university of a small city in central southern Italy, where the main studies were aimed at the tectonics of mountain systems and the seismogenic faults that had generated large earthquakes destroying several villages in the region. Towards the end of my fourth year of university I had lost hope of going to sea, but one day a professor said “there might be a possibility for some students to join a group on an oceanographic cruise. Are any of you interested?” I immediately said “I’m interested!”. A few months later I was on a ship and that was the beginning of my scientific life. But I had to leave my family and many of my friends and move from south to north Italy.

Discuss other scientific interests. I am interested in astrophysics, knowing how the Universe evolves and whether there are other life forms beyond us. This is just a curiosity and when I have the opportunity, I go to listen seminars or read some more informative articles. My legend is Margherita Hack, a great astrophysicist who loves cats.

How did you learn about scientific ocean drilling? During my work, I used data acquired during the old ODP program and thus I know of this huge and important program.

Multipart scientific figure showing a transect of drill holes, the rock sections for each drill site, and the seismic data for each drill hole. These data, together, help understand the sub-seafloor and shape of the sea floor.
This figure is a summary of my work. I integrated the analysis of geological data derived from wells drilling with seismic images of the sub-seafloor and the morphology of the seabed. 
 

 How does your work contribute to the betterment of society in general? Through the analysis of how the mantle rises, how faults control the exhumation of the mantle, how fluids circulate along fault planes influencing block movements, how faults can rupture generating earthquakes, the recurrence and the sliding of blocks. All this helps us to better understand the evolution of the Earth and evaluate its geological risks.

Are you training the next generation of scientists? I train students through curricular internships, graduate thesis and doctoral students.

What advice do you have for prospective scientists? Be passionate, courageous, opened, positive, build good relations and try to fly to go where your scientific imagination tells you to go, but at the same time be rigorous.

Have you received a piece of advice from your friends/mentors/advisors that has helped you navigate your career? Become an expert in an area and build your skills so that you become strong in your research area.

Follow Maria’s updates on LinkedIn.

Walter Menapace, Marine Geologist/Sedimentologist

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Tell us a little bit about yourself, describe your hobbies and interests outside of science. I like to hike with friends, mountain bike, climb, football, basically all kind of sports that imply being outdoor in the mountains. In Germany, I trained a football team of international students and we played a European tournament in Athens (Greece).

What kind of scientist are you and what do you do? I am a PostDoc researcher in Marine Geology, especially focusing on i) mud volcanoes, gas- and mud-spewing structures similar to magmatic volcanoes; and ii) paleoseismology, studying the effect of extreme events related to earthquakes on the sedimentary archive of the ocean seafloor. In a sense, I am using i) mud volcanoes as deep boreholes to explore the interior of subduction zones (unreachable through scientific drilling), by analyzing their sediments’ / fluids’ geochemical and mineralogical composition; and ii) event deposits to reconstruct the paleoseismic history of a certain region.

Background includes research and mechanical equipment on a scientific research vessel. Foreground includes a person trying on a bright orange thermal immersion suit while smiling.
Trying on a thermal immersion suit during a safety drill onboard a research vessel.

Do you conduct outreach, and if so, who do you communicate science to? I am trying to convey my science to the general public through diverse media (radio podcasts, news magazines, conferences/talks), in order to explain the societal application (and relevance) of what can be seen as quite abstract such as scientific research.

What is your favorite part about being a scientist, and how did you get interested in science? I started as and onland geologist as a university student due to my love for the outdoors and evolved into a marine geologist. I did not know anything related to marine geology until my PhD. I like basically everything that has to do with scientific innovation and green-energy, plus I am fascinated by biology.

How did you learn about scientific ocean drilling? If you are a marine geologist you should know the history of DSDP-ODP-IODP by heart 😉 I also participated in a previous IODP expedition.

How does your work contribute to the betterment of society in general? Subduction zones are where all the most destructive earthquakes (Mw>8) happen on earth. Nonetheless, several aspects of these complex geotectonic settings still remain obscure. Through the study of mud volcanism and paleoseismology I am trying to understand fluid and solid cycles in subduction zones, which play a role in their evolution and record past earthquakes. Understanding the seismic hazard coming from subduction zones and informing the population and the stakeholders on the risk implicated is key for an effective risk management.

View is from an aerial perspective so the background is the base of the ship deck, wooden planks. The person in the foreground is securing a piece of equipment used in pulling rock core up out of the ocean and onto the vessel.
Securing a gravity corer on the deck of a research vessel after retrieval.

Are you training the next generation of scientists? I am advising several PhD/MSc/BSc students, and I taught university courses/gave seminars to future scientists in the past.

Do you engage in community science? Whenever I discover something new on the seafloor I try to involve the local population in taking part with the naming process of the features.

What advice do you have for prospective scientists? It is above all a vocational path, in particular marine geoscience. I was born in the Italian Alps and could never have imagined that I would love being on a research vessel so much. Nothing will forge you better as a scientist then your motivation and drive for knowledge.

Brandon Shuck, Marine Geophysicist

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Background is a sunset over the ocean. Foreground is a masculine person in a vest and hard hat standing at the edge of a ship smiling.
Brandon working on the deck of the R/V Marcus G. Langseth during a marine seismic expedition offshore Mexico. Brandon was helping retrieve seismometer instruments that traveled all the way down to the seafloor and recorded geophysical data to understand earthquake hazards along the Middle America subduction zone. Having the night shift means getting to experience amazing sunrises with nothing but endless ocean.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I grew up in Colorado along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. I am passionate about the outdoors and spending time in nature. In my free time, I enjoy skiing, mountain biking, hiking, paddle boarding, disc golf, fitness, and cooking. I recently got into BBQing (smoked meats and veggies), and various fermentation projects (kombucha and fermented hot sauce).

What kind of scientist are you and what do you do? I am a solid-earth geophysicist and my research lies at the intersection of tectonics, geophysics, structural geology, and basin analysis. I am interested in the structure and evolution of the Earth’s lithosphere at tectonic plate boundaries. I primarily use active-source geophysical data to indirectly image the properties of rocks deep in the subsurface that we cannot “see” otherwise. I get excited about using new technology to make stronger connections between tectonic processes and the geologic record. My research studies processes in the Earth’s lithosphere on both geologic time scales and human time scales. Tectonic plates move very slow, so it can be challenging to think about dynamics that take place over millions of years! I am also interested in geology on human time scales, such as earthquakes, volcanic events, and the role of geosciences in providing energy for our society. 

What is your favorite part about being a scientist, and how did you get interested in science? I got interested in geology at a young age growing up in Colorado Springs where I was naturally curious about strange rock formations, such as the vertical sedimentary rocks in the Garden of the Gods. I decided to attend Western Colorado University, a small school in Gunnison, Colorado. In the Western geology program, I was exposed to the incredible rock formations and was fascinated by the stories they told about Earth’s past. I also became interested in mathematics and ended up getting a double major in geology and math. After graduation, I wanted to combine geology and math which led me into geophysics and PhD studies at UT Austin. At UT, I was fortunate to participate in several marine field expeditions that got me very excited about sea-going research and all the amazing tectonic processes happening in the Earth’s oceans. What I love most about my work is the feeling of exploration and discovery and contributing to our knowledge about some of the remote areas of our planet. 

How did you learn about scientific ocean drilling? I first came across scientific ocean drilling in graduate school where I was learning about the history of Plate Tectonic theory. I was amazed at how much we could learn by sampling rocks in the oceans where we cannot easily “see” them like rocks on land. I am very grateful to participate in a scientific ocean drilling expedition and contribute to the legacy of the program. 

How does your work contribute to the betterment of society in general? My research helps us better understand aspects of plate tectonics that we still have outstanding questions: How do continents break apart and form new oceans? How do subduction zones initiate and terminate? Why do some faults break in large earthquakes and others release energy slowly? I am passionate about sharing the joy of geosciences with the public. General knowledge of the geosciences is important for many pressing problems in society: climate change, energy industry, life on earth, and hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis. Nearly 40% of the global population lives within 100 km of the coastline where there are many geologic processes that can affect their lives. I hope that my research on geologic hazards at tectonic plate boundaries will help strengthen our societal resilience to these events and better understand the risks and threats to various communities. 

Background is bright blue sky, nearly white. Foreground contains chevron folds that are zigzag layers with a person for scale leaning on the rocks.
Hanging out on folded rocks in Crete, Greece. This outcrop is famous for its beautiful Chevron-style of folds evident in the deformed “zig-zagging” rock layers. The angled fold limbs made for a perfect spot to relax after spending time looking at the rocks in detail.

 What advice do you have for prospective scientists? Anyone can do science! I had a non-traditional background into science and was a bad student in high-school. At that time, I would never have thought I would be capable of getting degrees in geology and mathematics and doing science for a living! It turns out that success in academia is really about good mentorship and finding what you are passionate about. Just because you were not good at something does not mean it will always be that way. I am fortunate to have had a lot of amazing mentors and teachers along my journey that were patient, supportive, and gave me unwavering encouragement. Don’t fear the failures (which are inevitable), but instead stay determined and follow your dreams. 

Adam’s SVP Conference Experience

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Hi Adam here!

This past October, I was able to attend the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s (SVP) 83rd annual conference. It is held in different places each year, but this year, it was in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Duke Energy Convention Center. The conference lasts for a few days and is filled with talks, posters, workshops, events (like an awards banquet and auction where some very well-known paleontologists were dressed as Barbies (and Kens) and an assortment of Star Wars characters), and plenty of networking opportunities. 

Background is a conference center venue and the foreground is a sign with an arrow pointing to the conference event.
Poster with the 2023 SVP logo on it leading the way to SVP in the Duke Energy Convention Center.

This was my first time attending SVP and it did not disappoint! I was able to attend a plethora of talks and posters throughout the conference. I learned a lot and it even got me thinking about some research questions that relate to my research. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend every talk since there were, of course, overlapping sessions. So, sometimes, I had to pick and choose which talks to go to even if there were two (or three!) happening at the same time that I wanted to attend. Sometimes this required me to walk (sometimes fast-walk) from one end of the conference center to the other and back multiple times to make the presentations I really wanted to see. But it was worth it! 

Being the largest conference I have ever attended, it was overwhelming at times. But, thankfully, I attended SVP with a large group of people from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences that I was able to stick with the majority of the time during SVP. As a group, many of us caravanned up from Raleigh, NC to Cincinnati, OH in a few fully packed cars instead of flying in since it was not too long of a drive. Plus, it was in October, so the leaves were changing and it was a beautiful drive up! 

Driving in, as opposed to flying in, was perfectly fine by me especially since I had a poster presentation that I was doing at the conference. I had heard of airlines losing people’s posters before and I was worried about that. Luckily, I had no issues with my poster since we drove in a car to SVP. Not only was this my first SVP, but this was also my first poster presentation ever. I was very nervous to showcase my undergraduate research to professional paleontologists. My mentor made sure I was all set the day I presented my poster, which helped calm my nerves a bit. Once my poster session started, and people started coming up and asking questions about the research, the nerves went away and I just thoroughly enjoyed discussing my research with people who were at least somewhat interested in it. I received a lot of good feedback and people seemed genuinely interested in my work on Falcarius utahensis vertebrae. 

Background is a hotel sitting area and the foreground is a welcome sign to a conference event on an easel.
Welcome poster at the Hyatt hotel (one of SVP’s host hotels this year).

Beyond the talks and poster sessions, there was plenty of time and opportunities to network with other vertebrate paleontologists between sessions and during some of the events such as the Welcome Reception at the Cincinnati Museum Center and the after party after the Rewards Banquet. I got to meet and talk to a lot of interesting paleontologists that were at different points in their careers from students to professionals. 

Background is a blue sky with clouds and the foreground is the conference center venue with some aspects of the street view with traffic.
Outside the Duke Energy Convention Center.

It was a very unique experience where a bunch of people interested in vertebrate paleontology gathered together for a few days to talk about things we all love and to share ideas and research on that very topic. All-in-all, I learned a lot and gained a valuable experience while attending SVP. Now that I have been once, I can’t wait to attend again in the future!

Skeletal mounts of Torvosaurus (left) and Allosaurus (right) at the Cincinnati Museum Center. 

Alejandro’s SVP Conference Experience

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Hello from down yonder, it’s Alejandro!

Reporting in after a mind-blowing odyssey at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Conference
of 2023, held in the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio. Hailing from the golden state of California, I
embarked on this thrilling journey with the fervent desire to forge connections and delve into the
very essence of paleontology.

Picture this: a transcontinental shift from the West Coast to the Midwest, a seismic change in
environment that unfolded into an awe-inspiring adventure. My name echoing through the halls
of discovery, I set out with two formidable goals – to weave a tapestry of connections and to
plunge headfirst into the mesmerizing world of paleontological wonders.

And did I succeed? Oh, dear reader, I not only met my goals, but I soared past them with the
ferocity of a pterosaur in flight! The conference unveiled a tapestry of reunions with comrades
from past fieldwork expeditions, a rekindling of old flames in the pursuit of knowledge. But that’s
just the beginning.

In the midst of this scientific symphony, I brushed shoulders with the titans of paleontology.
Lawrence Witmer, a legend who once graced the halls of my childhood inspiration, became
more than a name on a paper. Faces that had been confined to Zoom calls and email
signatures materialized into the vibrant personalities of Andre Rowe and Evan
Johnsons-Ransom, igniting a flame of inspiration that still roars within me.

Conference Sign, date and location information

But it wasn’t just about the seasoned experts; it was about standing shoulder to shoulder with
my peers, fresh faces hungry for discovery, forging a sense of community that resonated
through the fossilized corridors of time. Validation surged through me like a thunderous dinosaur
grumble.

Amidst this whirlwind of camaraderie, I stumbled upon unexpected treasures. Fate smiled upon
me, granting an internship with a paleontological powerhouse, specializing in the very fabric of
excavation, preparation, molding, casting, and the digital wizardry of 3D modeling and printing,
all dedicated to resurrecting the majesty of fossil fauna, especially dinosaurs.

Yet, the conference was not just a scientific haven; it was a haven for artists, authors, and
visionaries who painted the canvas of paleontology with strokes of beauty. Their creativity
sparked a fire within me, a burning desire to contribute to this community through the trifecta of
research, education, and art.

Museum exhibition with a fossil in the center with text descriptions on plaques around the partial skull. The display case is reflective as it is covered in glass and you can see reflections of over head lighting in the case.
Recently new material of T.tanneri a Late Jurassic Megalosaurid, maxilla and maxillary teeth with scale bar.

And so, here I stand, my foot firmly planted in the rich soil of hands-on paleontological
exploration. The beginning, a mere prologue to a story yet unwritten. The future, an
undiscovered landscape awaiting the imprint of my footsteps. What lies ahead, you ask? Stay
tuned, fellow enthusiasts, for my FEA project awaits—the Finite Element Analysis of
Torvosaurus tanneri. For this is my calling with the assimilation of a new reconstruction of its
skull and viewing the new material found for it, it is my calling. The adventure has just begun,
and I invite you all to join me on this thrilling expedition into the depths of prehistoric marvels.
The saga continues, and the echoes of discovery reverberate through time.