“WHY I WANT TO BE A GEOLOGIST.”
inhabited and mined for the improvement of society and the development of this planet in the future.
Helping to expand my and others’ knowledge of Earth, helping to mitigate risks that adversely impact others, and helping to develop responsible, sustainable ways of using the
resources around us: this is what pushes me to continue my expedition into the field of geology. I hope to become a mem- ber of a dynamic and professional science that is relentlessly becoming interdisciplinary. Along the way, I hope to spend as much time outside as possible, enjoying all that I have been privileged to learn.
Melanie Bowen, SA-7485, Texas A & M
My short-term goal is to survive another semester of college at Texas A&M University. I am passionate about geology, and hope to improve society through expanding the science. Being a certified professional geologist would demonstrate that I am qualified to practice geoscience and research
carbonates.
I began my education in the College of Engineering, but within weeks, I knew that I had I made a mistake. Both of my parents are engineers, so I had thought that joining engineering was the only option. I found that I was bored with the subject matter. I reevaluated my skills and interests, and landed in geology. My main driver towards the science was my part-time lifeguarding job in high school. I worked at ConocoPhillips’ wellness center in the Energy Corridor of Houston, TX where I heard plenty of engineering related talk, but also a fair amount about geology. Because oil and gas sparked my interest in geology, I want to join the petro- leum industry in the future. I am particularly interested in carbonates, and I currently study the fluctuations in calcium
carbonate (CaCO3) burial chemistry with Dr. Denise Kulhanek of the International Ocean Discovery program. We try to link
changes in CaCO3 preservation to changes in climate and tectonics. Carbonates are the most common source rocks for hydrocarbons, and have the potential to provide the United States with energy reserves for years to come. Calcite and aragonite are polymorphs of calcium carbonate.
Polymorphs are simply minerals with the same chemical for- mula but different mineral form depending on physical condi- tions. Aragonite typically forms at higher pressures, whereas calcite forms at lower pressures. Surprisingly, in the oceans both calcite and aragonite form, both organically and inorgani- cally, during alternating periods of time. Changes in spread- ing rates at mid-ocean ridges may alter ocean chemistry and determine which polymorph precipitates. Empirical curves relating the calcite-aragonite transition to tectonic cycles exist, but they need much refinement to be really useful to petroleum geologists. Oil and gas is held in the pores of rocks, and the volume of oil that can be held in reservoir rocks depends on the mineral constituents: clastics or carbonates (calcite, ara- gonite, dolomite). If the calcite-aragonite transition could be constrained, then this transition between minerals would be useful to predict porosity. Knowing the porosity in carbonate sources/seals is essential for estimating petroleum reserves. Earlier this year, I applied for a Ph.D. program at Oxford University in the U.K. to research a project on the calcite-ara- gonite transition using echinoderm analysis. If I am unable to go to Oxford, I will look for other schools with strong programs in carbonates, such as Kansas, Miami, or Stanford. Being a professional geologist would increase my chances to continue doing research on carbonates within the petroleum industry after getting my graduate degree. My short-term goal is to sur- vive another semester of school; however, my long-term goal is to contribute to making the USA more energy independent for future generations. Hydrocarbons trapped in unconventional carbonate reservoirs are the key.
Kristina Butler, SA-7010, University of Alaska Anchorage
If you had told me four years ago that I would be starting my PhD in geology in the Fall of 2017, I would have looked at you as if you were crazy! In fact, I would have had that same reaction if you had told me I would choose to dedicate my life to science and education. I attended a very small
international high school. We had very few electives avail- able and we barely touched on the earth sciences throughout middle school and high school. I genuinely was not aware of the discipline of geology. Additionally, I was not particularly exceptional in math or science so I didn’t even consider a STEM field for college. Alas, I spent my young adult years feeling like I hadn’t quite found my calling.
www.aipg.org
Looking back, my background and interests were clearly steering me towards geoscience. I grew up as a Canadian expat kid in China. My parents were teachers and loved to travel. They made sure we received a well-rounded education with a heavy dose of visits to natural wonders mixed in. I spent my formative years exploring the karst caves of Kunming, China. I also remember my distinct curiosity when visiting the Stone Forest, a maze of extremely large tor stones. I wanted to understand how these phenomenal features formed and when. At the young age of ten years old, I was thinking like a process sedimentologist! As time went on, I developed a love of outdoor activities such as hiking, always an excellent excuse to look at rocks! My rock collection only grew. The first time I met a geologist, I just about exhausted her with questions. It was like a light bulb went on and my
Jul.Aug.Sep 2017 • TPG 13
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