Women in STEM Archives - Geodiversity Education Foundation

Quakes and Quirks with Dr. Tiegan Hobbs

Get in-depth with Dr. Tiegan Hobbs on all things earthquakes! Listen in as we talk about the many (many!) cool projects Hobbs has on the go that take her from answering emails at her desk, to digging an eight metre trench in the wilderness, to (very very gently) throwing seismometers off a ship to measure the ocean floor. Hobbs discusses imposter syndrome and how she takes the attitude that, even if you don’t feel like you’re ready, there’s someone else out there who is less prepared than you, and they’re going to do it anyways. So be the imposter, and do it with whimsy! Listen now: You can also listen to our podcast on these platforms: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Spotify Read along with the podcast transcript: Introduction Hello, everyone. Welcome to Beneath Your Feet, a geoscience podcast. I’m Veronica Klassen, science communicator, geology enthusiast and your host. Here at the APGO Education Foundation, our mission is to spark curiosity and passion for the geology of Ontario. Whether you’re a geology nerd, science enthusiast, or nature lover, this podcast is for you. Join us as we geek out over fascinating geology, uncover the hidden storiesand secrets of our extraordinary planet and explore the captivating world beneath your feet. Veronica KlassenHello, everyone, and welcome to another episode of Beneath Your Feet. Today, I’m here with Dr. Tiegan Hobbs, who is a research scientist for the GSC, the Geological Survey of Canada, as well as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. She is also a lead scientist for the National Seismic Risk Model, which estimates the impacts of earthquakes on buildings and people across Canada. Today we’re going to be talking about earthquakes, we’re going to be talking about faulting, plate tectonics, exciting things that we haven’t really covered in the podcast before, so I’m really excited to get into it. Thanks so much for being with me. Dr. Tiegan HobbsOh, thank you for having me. I’m really stoked. VeronicaAwesome. All right. So to start, if you want to just tell me, who are you and what do you do? TieganWho am I? What a question, its a big one. I was born in… No, I’m a research scientist, as I think you already mentioned. So my main job is I’m the lead scientist for the national seismic risk model, which is a nationwide assessment of basically what are the likely impacts from earthquakes that could occur in or near Canada. So that’s sort of my main role. And then I also work a little bit on some active faulting projects looking for evidence of active fault lines. Yeah. So overall, I would say that I’m a geophysicist and I work a little bit in some areas like geology, geomorphology and geotechnical engineering. VeronicaOkay. So what would you say your kind of niche is within that? TieganI think the area that I have developed expertise that’s like a little bit more on the rare side is probably in the world of seismic risk. In the insurance industry, they have a lot of folks who are measuring seismic risk. But in the academic side of things or like, you know, government science, it’s not necessarily an area that you have a ton of people working. And so that’s kind of the area that I would sort of consider my area of expertise that I most often get tapped for is like, oh, can you be a subject matter expert on this? Which is quite cool. I really enjoy that area and I feel like it does a really nice job of getting to blend the different areas that I’ve studied. You’re kind of combining, having to have a really good understanding of seismology and where earthquakes can occur and how big they’re going to be and how much the ground is going to shake. And then also have this understanding of like what is the built environment and how do we combine that scientific understanding with our engineering knowledge. And then even a step further to say, okay now you kind of have to have a bit of a communication perspective on–because this is very applied science, we want to make sure that we’re answering the questions that the decision makers have. And so being able to take all of that and then convey it to the people who need to understand it and get some feedback from them about like, yeah, what are the questions you have to answer in your day to day at work? And how can I make sure that the science that we’re doing is going to give you the right base of evidence to make the best decision that you can in your role. So it’s yeah, I find it’s like a really neat intersection of science, engineering and society as well. VeronicaHmm. That’s so cool. So are you working in your day to day with those policymakers and engineers? TieganKind of, yeah. Like, yeah, when I look at, what’s the roster of meetings for the week? It’s like yesterday I was talking to the National Building code some past groups in there. And then last week I had a meeting with some decision making folks out West here who are responsible for some health care assets. And they were thinking like, how are we going to make decisions right after an earthquake happens and how can we prepare ourselves to make the best possible decisions with the resources that we’ll have on hand. So being able to sort of help out with that a little bit and say like, yeah, well, here’s where the science is and here’s how it can best inform your decision making. And do the best I can to help them set them up to all to make good decisions. Yeah. And then I’ll have meetings with my engineering colleagues or, you know, working with students and yeah, it’s kind of I feel

Joana Rodrigues smiles at the camera in front of the ocean. Text reads: From Rocks to Oranges. How to find geology everyday with Joana Rodrigues

From Rocks to Oranges with Joana Rodrigues

Learn how geology is everywhere with Joana Rodrigues! In this episode we talk to Joana Rodrigues, a Portuguese UNESCO expert in geoheritage and geoscience communication. Joana shares her journey from teaching to working in geoparks, where she engages diverse audiences in understanding geodiversity, the non-living elements of nature like rocks, soils, and geological processes. She discusses her PhD research on improving science communication in geoparks, highlighting the need for strategic, audience-focused, and emotionally engaging approaches. Joana emphasizes that geology is deeply connected to everyday life, from food and water to natural hazards, and advocates for shifting public perception to see geoscience as essential for sustainability and environmental solutions.

A Martian Lens with Dr. Tanya Harrison

Join us as we explore an exciting new topic for our podcast — planetary science! From Martian landscapes to icy plumes on distant moons, Dr. Tanya Harrison explains how cameras help us explore other worlds and what those images reveal about the potential for life beyond Earth. Listen now: You can also listen to our podcast on these platforms: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Spotify Read along with the podcast transcript: Introduction Hello, everyone. Welcome to Beneath Your Feet, a geoscience podcast. I’m Veronica Klassen, science communicator, geology enthusiast and your host. Here at the APGO Education Foundation, our mission is to spark curiosity and passion for the geology of Ontario. Whether you’re a geology nerd, science enthusiast, or nature lover, this podcast is for you. Join us as we geek out over fascinating geology, uncover the hidden stories and secrets of our extraordinary planet and explore the captivating world beneath your feet. Veronica Klassen Hello, everyone, and welcome to another episode of Beneath Your Feet, the geoscience podcast where we talk to geologists of all different kinds in order to hear their career stories, advice for students and just fun, exciting things that are going on in geology today. We are branching out to a topic that we haven’t explored yet on the podcast, and that is planetary science. So today we’re going to be talking to Dr. Tanya Harrison, who is a professional Martian. She is currently a fellow of the Outer Space Institute and the director of Earth and Space Science at the Canadian Space Company, Mission Control, based out of Ottawa. She is a planetary scientist, future focused science strategist, author and one of the world’s go-to voices on Mars and space exploration. So thank you so much for being with me here today, Tanya. Dr. Tanya Harrison Oh, thanks, so much for having me. Veronica Let’s just start with a little intro. Tell us about yourself. Who are you and what do you do? Tanya Oh, gosh, I don’t know how to follow up the bio. Veronica Yeah, true. Tanya In terms of what do I do right now, so my background is in planetary science, like you said. I feel like a lot of folks have never heard of that term, if you are not a planetary scientist. So basically a geologist, but studying other planets. And in that process, especially if you’re studying rocky bodies like Mars or the Moon or Mercury, you have to understand geologic processes on the Earth first, because we see all the same stuff when we look at these places. Veronica Right. Tanya Well, for the most part. We can get into that later. There’s some cool stuff on other planets that we don’t see here. So yeah, you can take your geology background and then apply that to studying things like impact craters on the moon or volcanoes on Mars, or weird cracks in the surface on Venus. And I think that’s pretty cool. Veronica That’s so awesome! Wow. Okay, so what does a day in the life look like for you? Tanya So right now I work for a commercial space company called Mission Control as their director of Earth and Space Science. And so some of it is doing science, but more focused on what do we need to do to design instruments and missions to achieve specific science goals. So, if you’re trying to answer certain questions, say, and you need images to answer those questions, you want pictures, you know you want a camera, but what resolution should that camera be? What wavelengths of light should it be imaging at? And probably most importantly for space, how do you get it into the constraints of mass, power, and cost that you have for your mission, which are usually very, very tough to do. So you come in with these huge dreams about all these things you would want to do as a scientist. You want all the answers, right? But then at the end of the day, you come back with like, you know, one tenth of what you were dreaming you could do because of all the constraints that space and budgets put on you. Veronica Yes, oh, my gosh, that’s totally fair. So, yeah, essentially you’re just like, what can we do, what questions can we answer? What can we do with the time and money and space that we have, which I imagine is quite the challenge. Tanya Definitely. And then you work with engineers to actually build this. I am not an engineer at all. Veronica Right, okay. Tanya And the engineers aren’t planetary scientists, so they won’t know without somebody telling them, ‘Hey, we need something that can do this,’ then they can go and build it. And then usually that’s another meeting of the minds in the middle, like, what do the scientists dream of? And then what do the engineers tell you is possible. So it’s so it ties really well, I guess, to the idea of science communication in general, because you’re communicating with people of a ton of different backgrounds to try to get a mission to actually happen. Veronica Right. What is your specific niche or area of interest within planetary science? I know you’re working on technology like cameras and things like that. Would you say that’s kind of your niche where you find yourself? Tanya Yes, like cameras and camera operations, but more on the geology side in particular, my background was in landslides. And really, any way that something can fall down a hill. Because there’s a lot of different ways something can fall down a hill, whether that’s a landslide or a glacier flowing down a slope, because there are what we think are dust covered glaciers on Mars, as well as the remnants of where glaciers used to be and they’ve left some stuff behind that is very indicative of the glaciers having been there in the past.

FossilTok with Joannasaurus

In our latest episode, we speak with @Joannasaurus — a paleontologist and science communicator who’s using TikTok to make fossils fascinating for everyone. Joanna talks about what it takes to make complex science accessible, the role of humour in online storytelling, and her roundabout journey to paleontology! Listen now: You can also listen to our podcast on these platforms: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Spotify Read along with the podcast transcript: Introduction Hello, everyone. Welcome to Beneath Your Feet, a geoscience podcast. I’m Veronica Klassen, science communicator, geology enthusiast and your host. Here at the APGO Education Foundation, our mission is to spark curiosity and passion for the geology of Ontario. Whether you’re a geology nerd, science enthusiast, or nature lover, this podcast is for you. Join us as we geek out over fascinating geology, uncover the hidden storiesand secrets of our extraordinary planet and explore the captivating world beneath your feet. Veronica KlassenWell, welcome, everyone, to another episode of Beneath Your Feet. Today, I’m going to be talking to Joanna Northover, who is a science communicator on TikTok. We’re going to be talking about science communication, we’re going to talk about her career in geoscience, we’re going to talk about advice for students and all kinds of exciting things. So thanks so much for joining me, Joanna. JoannaNo problem. It’s my pleasure. It’s going to be a lot of fun. VeronicaAmazing. I’m very excited. All right. So why don’t we just start. Tell me a bit about yourself. Who are you and what do you do? JoannaAll right. Well, as you said, my name is Joanna Northover, but on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, I go by Joannasaurus and I am a science communicator. But I started out interested in paleontology. So my science communication really centers around paleontology. So fossils, dinosaurs, things like that. And I have loved paleontology for as long as I can remember. And so it was sort of, I had a few stumbles along the way. We’ll probably talk about that later on. But I did do a master’s degree and an undergraduate degree in paleontology. But then I fell in love with science communication, and the rest, as they say, is history. VeronicaThat’s awesome. So yeah, so going a bit back, how did you originally become interested in paleontology and how has that journey sort of changed for you over time? JoannaAll right. So I guess a lot of people go through a dinosaur phase when they’re kids, and I was no exception. My was quite early. I really loved dinosaurs, even at a very young age and as young as the age of four, I declared that I was going to become a paleontologist. And that was a dream that I held for a very, very long time until I hit my teens. And, you know, I kind of got a little discouraged. I thought maybe this wasn’t a practical career, you know, And I thought, oh, well, maybe I’ll be a teacher instead, because I also really loved teaching. Even from a young age. I used to pretend to teach my little brother, you know, with a pointing stick and some little diagrams and stuff. And so when I was in high school, you know, I kind of pivoted a bit and I thought, Oh, I’ll do a degree, and then I’ll go to Teachers College. And I had really good marks in history and chemistry. So that’s what I applied to. I did actually apply to paleontology as well, and I got in at UofT, but I was too nervous to move all the way there because at the time I was one of the first years to do that double cohort thing where, you know, in Ontario we went from having grade 13 to going to grade 12. And so I was 17 when I graduated. I wasn’t even a legal adult, and I just felt like really nervous about going too far away from home all by myself. VeronicaCause where is home for you, sorry? JoannaOttawa. I grew up in Ottawa and that’s where I live now, so I didn’t want to go too far away from home. So I decided I would go to university at Ottawa U. And I decided to go into history and I did my first year of history and I dropped both of my history courses. So I was like, Wow, wow, this isn’t the right major. And I was like, well, maybe I made a mistake here, so that’s not a good sign. So I had done actually a first year geology course as one of my breadth courses when I was at Ottawa U. I’d also taken a lot of philosophy and I almost switched to a major in philosophy. My mom actually, of all people, said, Did you know that Carleton has just started a vertebrate paleontology concentration from the Earth Science Department? And so I applied right away. I switched over. I thought, you know what? I knew more when I was four than I know now. I just I’ll go to school and I’ll figure it out after. I’ll just, I have to study something I love or else this is going to be a disaster. And so I transferred over to Carleton and I started in the Earth Science department there doing my vertebrate paleontology concentration. And it was just magical. Suddenly it was easy to go to school. I wasn’t dropping my courses. I had so much fun. The department there was great, really supportive, and I liked it so much that after I did my bachelor’s degree, I ended up deciding to stay and do a graduate degree. I did a master’s degree also at Carleton. But while I was doing my bachelor’s and master’s, I started working in the summers at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology, where I was working in the Science Education Department. And also I did some science education sort

A hiker stands on the top of an outcrop looking over a distant mountain scene. Text reads: "Beneath Your Feet. A geoscience podcast."

Fundy’s Fossil Coast: Special Episode with Dr. Jade Atkins and Danielle Serratos on the Bay of Fundy

Join host Veronica Klassen in Nova Scotia for this special episode on location at the Bay of Fundy! Dr. Jade Atkins, Curator and Director of Science Research at Joggins Fossil Cliffs, and geologist Danielle Serratos, Curator and Director of the Fundy Geological Museum, reveal the region’s one-of-a-kind fossils and dramatic geologic history. Along the way, they share the twists and turns of their unconventional paths into paleontology—and offer candid, inspiring advice for students and anyone charting their own career journey. Listen now: Spotify Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Read along with the podcast transcript: Introduction Hello, everyone. Welcome to Beneath Your Feet, a geoscience podcast. I’m Veronica Klassen, science communicator, geology enthusiast and your host. Here at the APGO Education Foundation, our mission is to spark curiosity and passion for the geology of Ontario. Whether you’re a geology nerd, science enthusiast, or nature lover, this podcast is for you. Join us as we geek out over fascinating geology, uncover the hidden storiesand secrets of our extraordinary planet and explore the captivating world beneath your feet. Veronica Klassen Hello, everyone, and welcome to another episode of Beneath Your Feet. Today is a super exciting day and one that I have been looking forward to for a long time because I’m actually here in Nova Scotia visiting the Bay of Fundy, which has the world’s highest tides, as well as the oldest dinosaur fossils in Canada. Danielle And even more importantly since we’re here at Joggins… Jade We have the world’s oldest amniota reptile fossil. Veronica Well there you go! Today, I’m going to be talking to Dr. Jade Atkins, who is the Curator and Director of Science Research at Joggins Fossil Cliffs, as well as geologist Danielle Serratos, director and curator at the Fundy Geological Museum. Today we’re gonna be talking about the really unique geology of the Bay of Fundy area. We’re going be talking about life advice, career advice, some common misconceptions about geology and paleontology, and so much more. So thank you so much you two for agreeing to be on the podcast. Danielle Thanks for having us. Veronica Awesome. Let’s jump right into it. So start just by telling us a bit about yourself. Who are you and what do you do? Jade Okay, so I’m Jade. I am not actually a geologist. I am a biologist that learned geology on the job. Veronica Okay fun. Jade At every sort of point in my career, I gained a little more geology knowledge, but I do have a biological background, so I approach fossils from a little bit of a different perspective than than your average paleontologist I think. Danielle And, Danielle speaking here, I am more of the stereotypical paleontologist. I grew up in North Texas, so I was surrounded by some really fantastic fossil sites and loved it from an early age. I went to University for my Undergrad, have a degree in Geology. Then went on to Grad school and became a specialist in marine reptile paleontology. Veronica Wow. That’s awesome. All right. Do you mind telling us a bit more about your respective organizations and what they do? Jade Absolutely. Yeah. So the Joggins Fossil Cliffs is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We were inscribed in 2008. And the reason for our inscription is that this is the best and most complete record of the late Carboniferous that you can find in the world. So it’s 15 kilometers looking out any window kind of in any direction at this point of a cliff face that has fossils is very fossiliferous. Sort of twice a day the tides come and they rework the beach and also the cliffs, and we have new findings every day. Danielle So I work at the Fundy Geological Museum. It’s in Parrsboro, about forty-five minutes from Joggins, where we are right now. We are a part of the Nova Scotia Museum. So, Nova Scotia has the largest most decentralized museum system in Canada. Veronica Wow. That’s a lot. Danielle Yeah. Most of them are heritage homes, but the Fundy Geological Museum was established in 1993, so we just celebrated our thirty-first year, thirty-second, something like that. I can do simple math. Our mission and mandate is to record Nova Scotia’s geological history, specifically around the Bay of Fundy. Because we’re situated on the North shore of the Minas basin, that is primarily where we collect fossils and minerals and do our research, however, because we are Nova Scotia’s geological museum, like the provincial museum, we also have specimens from all over the province. Jade Including from here. Danielle Yep. Jade. You do have some specimens from the Joggins formation. But that’s fine, fossils from the Joggins formation are found all over the world. Veronica They travel a lot? Jade They did. They are more well travelled than I am. Veronica That is awesome. And how did both of you end up here? So what was the spark that started you on this journey exploring rocks and fossils? And why did you end up here specifically? Jade It was a complete accident for me. I was not into, I was not into geology. I was not really into rocks as a kid. I wasn’t really into nature either. I didn’t meet a scientist. I’m from rural Nova Scotia. I didn’t meet a scientist until I went to university. So I went to university wanting to be a medical doctor because that is all I saw.Those were the people doing science in my community. Were teachers, and I knew I didn’t want to be a teacher, although I do teach now, and medical doctors and nurses. And I thought, okay, I could do that. And then I took a biology course in my first year and I am dating myself a bit. But Tiktaalik had just been found. Veronica Sorry just for the non geologists, do you mind just explaining quick what Tiktaalik is? Jade Yes. So Tiktaalik is called a fishapod

PODCAST EPISODE #6: From Extraction to Innovation with Mary-Anne Hildebrandt

Summary In episode 6 of Beneath Your Feet, A Geoscience Podcast, host Veronica Klassen interviews resource geologist Mary-Anne Hildebrandt. Mary-Anne discusses her roundabout path to geoscience, unique career journey, and focus on sustainability throughout her career. Mary-Anne and Veronica discuss the perception of geoscience as a ‘fluffy’ science and how including geoscientists in conversation can benefit organizations. Mary-Anne provides insight into the role of geoscience in moving from a linear to a circular economy and how understanding the energy and value of a consumable good can help us to waste less. Listen now: You can also listen to our podcast on these platforms: Spotify Audible Apple Podcasts Read along with the podcast transcript: Introduction Hello, everyone. Welcome to Beneath Your Feet, a geoscience podcast. I’m Veronica Klassen, science communicator, geology enthusiast and your host. Here at the APGO Education Foundation, our mission is to spark curiosity and passion for the geology of Ontario. Whether you’re a geology nerd, science enthusiast, or nature lover, this podcast is for you. Join us as we geek out over fascinating geology, uncover the hidden storiesand secrets of our extraordinary planet and explore the captivating world beneath your feet. Veronica Klassen: Hello everyone and welcome to another episode! Today I’m going to be talking to Mary-Anne Hildebrandt, a resource geologist and past president of PGO. Mary-Anne has a BSc in Geological and Earth Sciences, a BA in Political Studies, and a Master of Earth and Energy Resource Leadership, where she did her thesis in waste and the circular economy. So we’ll be discussing the perception of geoscience in society, advice for young students, how to choose what to study, and the role of geoscience in moving away from increasing waste and towards a circular economy. Welcome Mary-Anne. Thanks so much for being with me. Why don’t you start by telling us a bit about yourself? Mary-Anne Hildebrandt: So, Veronica, it’s so great to be here today. I’m a resource geology manager at Stellar Gold. And what that means is that we’re creating the three dimensional models and estimates that will be used for potentially the development into a mining project down the road. We’re a junior exploration company. A bit about myself I studied at Queen’s quite a long time ago now. I’ve been in the industry for, I guess, 17 years, it seems like it’s gone by in a flash, but it’s been a lot of different fun opportunities over the course of that time. So you know, I started in exploration, was in production, mining, environment for quite a number of years, almost ten years. And I’m back at exploration again. Veronica: Amazing. Thanks so much. You’ve been doing so many different things. I think that’s that’s awesome. So with that, if you’re talking to students who are maybe considering going into geoscience or who are just deciding what they do want to study or what they want to go into and consider as their career options. What would be the best piece of advice you would have for students trying to figure out what they want to do? Mary-Anne: I think with geoscience, like there’s so many different pathways to doing because geoscience is used in in many ways people don’t even realize. Right? Field based part is probably the most visible. But then there’s also the regulatory space with geoscientists working within government and other conservation authorities that are doing work to protect the public. And then there’s the Bay Street Geoscientists, and they could be analysts that are giving advice to investors. Right. And same on the security side, geoscientists that sit within securities, again, a city based position that is that’s creating protection for investors on the stock market. And there’s just so many different ways you can do geoscience. And it’s it’s incredible really, how many opportunities there are. If that answers your question. Veronica: Yes, no it does. And I think that there are so many different ways that you can do geoscience and people might not consider that as students. I guess as like as student would you recommend them like looking into like a wide variety of options or just like starting kind of with the basics and going from there, or how would you recommend them sort of like approaching that? Mary-Anne: I think as students, you know, there are sort of two ways to go about being a student, right? You’re either a student that knows exactly where they’re going, and I don’t know how many students really are those people. And then there’s the students that, you know, might start their university career in one direction and choose something else. I’m one of those students myself. I actually started my first degree, my first major was in political science. It wasn’t in geoscience. And it’s not because I didn’t appreciate geoscience. I didn’t really know much about it where I came from. You’re either a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher or a nurse. That was the things that are my career counselors talked to our high school students about. And I happened to have been always curious about rocks and nature and whatnot and, and the intersection of society and, you know, the natural environment. And because of that, I had more and more of my projects in my first major were geared with an underlying sort of conversation around society’s obligations regarding the natural environment. And, you know, I had been chatting with my closer friends and they were like, why don’t you take a geoscience course as an elective? And that’s what I did. And it was out of that elective that I realized I really liked that discipline. I felt like I was home. And it was the professor of that course that contacted me amongst a group of other folks over the summertime and said, why don’t you come back to the university and do a degree in geoscience? That was Dr Jean Hutchinson that did

PODCAST EPISODE #4: Reefs and Reels: Evolution and Communication with Charlotte Spruzen

Summary In this episode of Beneath Your Feet, A Geoscience Podcast, host Veronica Klassen interviews Charlotte Spruzen about her research on ancient reef systems in the Yukon and their role in the evolution of complex life. Charlotte explains how these ancient ecosystems provide clues about early animal life and Earth’s changing environments. Beyond her fieldwork, she shares insights on geoscience communication, including her experiences making educational TikTok videos and the challenges of debunking misinformation online. The conversation highlights the importance of making science accessible, engaging, and accurate in a digital age where myths can spread quickly. Listen now: You can also listen to our podcast on these platforms: Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music Audible Read along with the podcast transcript: Introduction Hello, everyone. Welcome to Beneath Your Feet, A Geoscience Podcast. I’m Veronica Klassen, science communicator, geology enthusiast and your host. Here at the APGO Education Foundation, our mission is to spark curiosity and passion for the geology of Ontario. Whether you’re a geology nerd, science enthusiast, or nature lover, this podcast is for you. Join us as we geek out over fascinating geology, uncover the hidden stories and secrets of our extraordinary planet and explore the captivating world beneath your feet. Veronica Klassen Welcome. Thanks so much for being with me here today. Today I’m going to be talking to Charlotte Spruzen, who is a PhD candidate at McGill University, studying the evolution of complex life. So, thanks for being with me here today. Charlotte Spruzen Thank you for inviting me, I’m so excited to be here. Veronica So, yeah, why don’t we just start with, tell us a little bit about yourself, who are you and what do you do? Charlotte Yeah. So I’m Charlotte. My pronouns are she/ her. I came to Canada three years ago, so I’ve been in Montreal since then, working at McGill University. I’m a PhD candidate in sedimentology and stratigraphy. So that’s basically looking at sedimentary rocks and seeing how they change as a function of distance from the shoreline and how sea level changes as well. And before that, I was in the UK, as you can probably tell from the accent. I love it, I love Canada, I love being here. I am really into my research and yep, that’s a little bit about me. Veronica Amazing. Thanks so much. Yeah. And I found you via your TikTok channel, which is really fun. And so you also do a little bit of science communication there, which is also a really cool part of what you do. Charlotte Yeah. I keep forgetting to plug that. Yeah. So I do a bit of science communication under the username @charbonate. And I do that on Instagram and TikTok it’s the same content on both and I make videos about mostly sedimentary rocks but I’m moving a little bit more into climate change just because I feel that’s important in the current political landscape. Veronica Yeah, that is definitely very important. All right. So with your studies, what what is it day in life look like for you both when you’re out doing research in the field or when you’re at home at the university? Charlotte So my time, as you kind of alluded to, is split between fieldwork, which is maybe like 1 or 2 months per year and office work. So when I’m in the field, it sort of depends on where we are. But most of my fieldwork has been in Yukon, so that’s helicopter fieldwork out in the Ogilvie Mountains just north of Dawson City. It’s an absolutely beautiful part of the world and I’m so lucky to work there. And a day in the life there, we’ll be staying in like individual tents. So we will have slept in the tent overnight. You wake up, you go into a group tent, you make coffee, you make breakfast, which is normally just oatmeal with just the same thing every single day. It gets pretty boring. And then we leave at, you know, between 8 and 9 a.m. and we go out into the field and we do between an eight and a ten hour day. And we’re walking off to the outcrops and we’re studying the rocks, mostly taking what are called stratigraphic logs. So that’s when you walk up a hill and you’re measuring how the rocks change through time. Well, how the rocks change up the hill, which means how they’re changing through time. And then we come back, we make our dinner, which again, is pretty much the same thing every day. It’s just a dehydrated meal and you add hot water. And so we have that. We have maybe some like, fun snacks and then we go to bed. So, yeah, it’s very much the same routine, but different rocks every day, which is pretty cool. Veronica Hm, that’s awesome, yeah. Charlotte And then when I’m in the office, again, there’s like a lot of, so I guess kind of the opposite of the fieldwork where there’s a lot of variety. I’m kind of doing something different every day. So sometimes I might be doing some lab work measuring the geochemical composition of things. Sometimes I might be writing or maybe doing some coding, figure plotting, basically preparing things for manuscripts or for my thesis. And then other days I’d say most days right now I’m doing microscope work. So my main area of interest is looking at really thin slices of carbonate rocks and trying to figure out if they’re getting more complex through time. So I’m just spending hours staring down the microscope looking at these tiny little like micron scale features, which I love, but it does give you a headache after a little bit. Veronica I believe it. Okay, awesome. That’s super cool. I love that, there’s so much variety in what you do. I think that’s really fun. How did you get where you are? Like, how were you originally

PODCAST EPISODE 3: From Books to Bedrock: Student life with Keira Hum

In this episode, we sit down with Keira Hum, a passionate Integrated Science student at McMaster University, to explore the ins and outs of student life in the world of Earth Sciences. Keira shares her journey from the classroom to the field, offering invaluable advice for balancing academics, personal growth, and career aspirations. Whether it’s navigating coursework, finding opportunities in the geoscience community, or preparing for a future in the field, Keira’s relatable stories and practical tips are sure to inspire students and geoscience enthusiasts alike. Tune in for a fun and insightful conversation packed with guidance for thriving in geoscience studies! 🌍🎙️ Listen now: You can also listen to our podcast on these platforms: Audible Apple Podcasts Spotify Read along with the podcast transcript: Introduction Hello, everyone. Welcome to Beneath Your Feet, a geoscience podcast. I’m Veronica Klassen, science communicator, geology enthusiast and your host. Here at the APGO Education Foundation, our mission is to spark curiosity and passion for the geology of Ontario. Whether you’re a geology nerd, science enthusiast, or nature lover, this podcast is for you. Join us as we geek out over fascinating geology, uncover the hidden storiesand secrets of our extraordinary planet and explore the captivating world beneath your feet. Veronica Klassen Thanks so much for joining me. Today I’m here with Keira Hum, a third year university student at McMaster. We’re going to be talking about some tips and ideas for being in school, studying geology,all those sorts of things. And I think it’ll be a really good conversation. I’m really excited to talk with you. Keira Hum I’m really excited to talk to you, too, Veronica. I’m excited to kind of talk about my job and experience going through a geoscience program. VeronicaYeah, for sure. All right, so why don’t you just start by introducing yourself? Who are you? What do you do? KeiraSo, yeah, my name is Keria Hum. I go to McMaster, and I’m in the Integrated Science program. I’m going into my fourth year of study and I have a concentration in Earth and Environmental Science. So I do a lot of, like, scientific research and take a lot of environmental electives. VeronicaAwesome. How does it feel being almost done? KeiraPretty good. I know I’m going to miss my friends a lot so that I’ll be going over my mind throughout the year and kind of thinking about master’s programs too, right now. So that’s been what I’ve been doing. VeronicaYeah. And how did you get where you are now? So how did you originally become interested in geoscience and what was that journey like for you? KeiraSo in my first year of undergrad in my Integrated Science program, we did have an introductory lecture and course in Earth and Environmental Science, and I really enjoyed that compared to like all the other courses that we had to take. And I just thought the Earth Science course was so much more fun and so much more interactive. And I also took an intro to Environment, Climate and Water, and I thought that was really interesting too. And I had a bunch of field events, which was really fun, and I thought, you know, can’t hurt to try going into that concentration. And I’m so glad that I did. VeronicaYeah, that’s awesome. And I think I remember you saying that you were not imagining that you would do Earth Science before university. You had a different track in mind. Is that the case? KeiraYeah. I was thinking I would go into biology. That’s kind of what I was interested in during high school. But getting introduced to the course at a university level and the concepts I thought was really interesting. I really like the idea of sitting in the classroom, learning about the concepts and then doing labs outside and in the field. That was really interesting to me and I learn so much better in those kind of environments. So it was kind of perfect for me. Yeah, and I just thought, it’s so applicable to so many different types of disciplines, like I could do biology and geoscience if I wanted, or earth and environmental science and biology. And I really liked how the discipline can, kind of, interact with so many other ones. VeronicaYeah, definitely. That’s one of the things that I also love about geology is just like how universal is and like it relates to so many different scientific and also nonscientific areas of study. KeiraYeah, for sure. VeronicaAnd you also said that you decided to try to get your PGO certification. So could you tell us a bit about how that process has been for you? KeiraYeah. So I first got introduced to what PGO is and the importance of it in my first year of study. So I was kind of thinking about it and trying to plan my courses for the PGO and because I’m in ISci, it’s hard to manage my electives just because I have limited space every year. So I had to do a lot of planning field courses and extra courses during the summer and spring terms just so I can make up all the knowledge requirements to get the PGO certificate. So it’s been a lot of planning and stress, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end. Yeah, I love the courses that I’m taking anyway that are required for the PGO knowledge requirements, so I find it, you know, not too difficult and pretty enjoyable because I’m getting more exposure to courses I might not have noticed or taken if it wasn’t for the PGO requirement list and seeing the course offerings on that document. VeronicaRight? Yeah, it’s different things that necessarily you would always get to get to explore. So that’s cool. On that note, do you have any other piece of advice that you would give for younger students who are maybe considering PGO or geoscience in general? What

Geoscience Meets AI: Imagining Tomorrow’s Possibilities

Mary-Anne Hildebrandt, P. Geo., FGC Energy and minerals power our lives, and while we Canadians live in a land of abundance, global projections of natural resource consumption far exceed what is readily available. Economic geologists are increasingly challenged to locate near-surface mineral resources that are feasible to extract. Today’s evolving business models focus on creating more precise, surgical methods of extraction, not only to reduce the environmental impact of mining, but also to unlock economic potential in deposits that, in the past, would not have met the threshold for Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEEE). In parallel, we are working in the era of Big Data. In 2020, NASA reported that its Earth Science data collection had reached 40 petabytes (PB), a unit 1000 times the size of a terabyte (TB) and that this collection was expected to expand to 250 PB within six years. Geoscience data in the mineral and mining industry follows a similar trend. Big data and increased complexity of the deposits make it essential that Professional Geoscientists (P. Geos) leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) because traditional methods of analysis are often insufficient to handle the scale and complexity of modern datasets. There are many companies and software developers trying to deliver solutions that produce high-quality results in real-time such as geochemistry, mineralogy, and structural measurements collected and analyzed in real-time at a drill rig using either powerful downhole tools or field core scanners. Some experts in the field believe that these advancements may reduce the necessity for geoscience professionals; however, it is far more likely that AI will strengthen our ability to understand, analyze, and model vast amounts of data, giving us insights that would otherwise be unattainable in a short amount of time. Consider society’s approach to earthquakes and how advanced we have become in creating predictive models over the last century. There are AI applications in use today that allow P. Geos the ability to analyze large datasets that aid in the creation of robust, predictive models. These detailed models allow P. Geos to have a better understanding of risk to the public and offer greater guidance to inform early warning systems. By integrating AI into our professional toolkit, we will be able to make more informed decisions, streamline complex analyses, and better allocate limited resources. Professional regulators, such as Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO), also stand to benefit from AI. For example, AI could be used to identify patterns and anomalies that would allow regulators to detect unethical behaviour more effectively. Rather than waiting for another Bre-X-type incident, where a company reported falsified assay results that inflated the gold reserves to attract investors, it is in the public’s best interest for our profession—and its regulators—to develop advanced tools to stay ahead. It is certain that bad actors will also leverage AI to attempt to bypass existing legal frameworks, making it essential to reinforce our defences. However, as powerful as AI is, its use must be carefully guided. As a profession, we bear the responsibility to harness AI in ways that ensure its development and applications remain ethical, transparent, and fair. We need greater dialogue and a robust framework to guide this evolving area. Inherently, AI lacks an understanding of ethical intentions. It makes decisions based on the algorithms and code designed by humans, as well as the dataset on which it is trained. However, developers have the ability to instil AI with ethical or unethical subroutines either intentionally or unintentionally. Developers might choose to design it with an underlying malicious intent, such as spreading misinformation, or creating harmful automated decisions that negatively affect individuals, groups, or the natural world. Unintentional biases could also emerge if the AI is trained on a limited or biased dataset, leading to skewed decisions or outputs. For example, a mining company using AI to identify mineral exploration targets might train the system on a flawed dataset that lacks sufficient diversity in the geological dataset used for training. As a result, the AI could misunderstand key aspects of the mineralization controls if its training dataset is incomplete or biased. This could lead to the AI relying on surface-level features like rock type or mineral traces that resemble those found in resource-rich areas. However, without accounting for other critical factors such as depth, geological history, geochemistry, alteration, or other favourable conditions needed for mineral formation, the AI might incorrectly predict the presence of valuable deposits in barren areas. This misinterpretation could lead to the company and its shareholders to invest millions in unproductive exploration, wasting time and money. Meanwhile, the AI might overlook other areas with better prospects due to the skewed training dataset. Without the critical and well-trained eye of a P. Geo. guiding AI and validating its outputs, AI has the potential to cause not only financial losses, but also unnecessary environmental damage. PGO’s Code of Ethics calls on P. Geos to demonstrate “integrity, competence and devotion to service and to the advancement of human welfare”, and it is imperative that AI systems embody these principles as part of the original code. Responsible integration of AI is critical to upholding the public’s trust in our profession, and a balanced approach is needed to ensure that we seize opportunities while safeguarding the public and the natural world from harm. After using the wrong ingredients to bake a cake, Anne Shirley reflects “…isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” (Anne of Green Gables, Ch. 21, by L. M. Montgomery). In the age of AI, geoscientists must remain committed to continuous learning and ethical practice. AI will inevitably become more integrated in our daily activities. To ensure that AI has the right ingredients that will prevent harm to society or the natural environment, we need greater discussion and more collaboration with each other and our peers in data science to build a framework that guides the use of AI in geoscience practice. A proactive approach focusing on the development of an

Pukaskwa National Park: A Geological Gem in the Northern Ontario Landscape

Author: Cyndy Broughton, Minerals Engineering Technologist The APGO Education Foundation is pleased to support the Geologist-in-Residence program at Pukaskwa National Park. Gazing out over the calm waters of Hattie Cove near the visitor centre at Pukaskwa National Park, I realized the allure of the park. Many of the people that I had recently met during my walks around the park were repeat visitors, coming back year after year to experience the wonders of nature. Some visitors travelled thousands of kilometers each year to experience the solitude and beauty that the park has to offer. Some came to relax and enjoy family time; others came to paddle the waters of Lake Superior or hike the many trails in the park. My goal that day was to help park visitors view the vistas of Pukaskwa through the lens of geology. In August 2024, I had the opportunity of being the Geologist-in-Residence at this beautiful national park located on the shores of Lake Superior near the community of Marathon, Ontario. My last visit to Pukaskwa National Park was in 1984 as a young geological technologist enjoying a day off from work and taking the opportunity to swim in the clear waters of Lake Superior. Now I was returning at the invitation of the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences and Parks Canada near the end of a career spent mostly in geological education. The role of the Geologist-in-Residence (GIR) program is to highlight the significant geological evidence and history on display within the park and increase public awareness and appreciation of geoscience. The mandate of Parks Canada is to protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural heritage. Parks Canada’s goal, written in its vision statement, is to make Canada’s treasured natural and historic places a living legacy, connecting hearts and minds to a stronger, deeper understanding of the very essence of Canada. Two of the guiding principles that govern the system of national parks are Education and Presentation and Human-Environment Relationship. Successful natural interpretive programs allow park visitors to discover and learn about ecosystems. Sharing knowledge about sustainability and the connections between people and our environment are important tools in ensuring that our efforts to protect our natural heritage are successful. When we provide the opportunity to experience nature and we share knowledge of ecosystems, we can foster the desire in citizens to protect and appreciate the world around us. To understand the very essence of Canada, we need to share geoscience knowledge, as well as knowledge of wildlife and botany. The geology of our country is literally the ground beneath our feet. Knowledge of geology can help make connections to soil formation, biodiversity, water quality, mineral resources, energy resources, and so much more. The Geologist-in-Residence program is an important program that helps to develop interpretive geology hikes and drop-in sessions where visitors to the park are invited to engage in interactive, hands-on programs. Programming is developed by geoscience educators to help park staff share the geological wonders of the park. This year’s guided hike to Pukaskwa National Parks North Beach helped visitors travel back through geological time to explore the formation of the 2.7-billion-year-old rocks. We discussed the formation of the Lake Superior basin through mid-continent rifting 1 billion years ago and ended our hike examining the impact that glaciation had on the rocks and sand deposits along the coast. During drop-in sessions, we tested the chemistry of Lake Superior waters and connected our results to the geology of the Canadian Shield. Children had the chance to learn basic rock and mineral identification skills and were able to apply those skills when they explored the rocks on the hike. With the assistance of Parks Canada Interpretation Officer and Coordinator Carly Robillard, the support of the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences (CFES), and the financial support of the APGO Education Foundation, my time spent at Pukaskwa National Park was a rewarding experience that offered me the opportunity to showcase the geological wonders of the park and help visitors make those important connections between geology and world around us. Cyndy Broughton is a Minerals Engineering Technologist and a Professor with 36 years of experience teaching geology and environmental science at Fleming College. She encourages everyone, young and old, to head outside and discover the connections between geology and the living world.