Tell us a little bit about yourself. Currently, I reside in the Southern Tier of New York. I love to be outdoors. My hobbies include traveling, hiking, paddling, trail maintenance, climbing, yoga, and aerial hoop. I am a big fan of constantly learning new things and having new experiences. I am a full-time single mother with a feisty 6.5 year old daughter. We are both National Parks enthusiasts.
What kind of scientist are you and what do you do? I love all sciences but focus my career and academics on the Earth and Atmospheric sciences. I hold a Masters in Geosciences with a concentration in teaching and a Masters in Atmospheric Sciences. Past research has examined winter storms, climatic changes and the influence of moist air, called an atmospheric river, as it interacts with mountain ranges such as the Andes. I have a lot of interest in weather and climate, but also love geology. I hope to learn more about paleontology! My upcoming research will focus on effective communication in geosciences and inclusivity within geoscience education.
I am a non-traditional graduate student as I am also a faculty member in Geography, and older than my program-mates. I have been teaching at the college level for about 8 years and have informal education experience with all ages. I have a great passion for teaching and sparking interest in science related topics. I’ve worked at a company called Science Explorers, providing after-school science enrichment to elementary schools. I’ve worked as an educator and animal care personnel at a natural history museum, a zoo, and a couple nature centers. Recently diagnosed with ADHD, this explains why I am addicted to having multiple jobs and hobbies. I’m always doing something and don’t know how to relax when there’s so much more to learn! I am currently working on my Ph.D. in order to go further in my career and to contribute more to the Geoscience community.
What is your favorite part about being a scientist, and how did you get interested in science? I think every child is born with natural curiosity and those who continue with that curiosity become scientists. I was always interested in the world around me, always exploring nature. The science of the Earth fascinated me from a young age. I didn’t start honing in on my interest in Meteorology until a tornado outbreak in 1998 occurred near my hometown. It wasn’t very devastating, but I was terrified. After that memorable day, I wanted to learn all that I could. I eventually did my undergraduate work in Meteorology, but the department I was in also had geology. I joined some classes and club activities related to geology. I had an interest in it, but my career took me more towards the atmospheric and climate sciences. I felt I was lacking in my academic understanding of geology, so I obtained my first Masters in Geosciences. I pursued a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences after that, but ended up with a second Masters. Now I am in a Geological Sciences Ph.D. program to further my knowledge and research interests. My favorite thing about being a scientist is seeing that spark in others when they witness the magic of science.
How does your work contribute to the betterment of society in general? My past work has contributed to better understanding of weather/climate phenomena and climate change. I hope that my future research will add to the ever changing education of complex concepts, the lack of effective communication in geoscience, and add more inclusive modes of learning and teaching.
What advice do you have for up and coming scientists? There may be people who tell you that you can’t. I certainly have had people tell me not to bother in science because I’m “a woman” or “the field is too competitive”. I didn’t listen to those voices and proved to them that I can do whatever I set my mind to. Another piece of advice is to accept that paths change, but it’ll all work out if you work hard to accomplish your goals. I didn’t think I’d be 35 and just starting a Ph.D. program, but here I am!
