2015 AIPG STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
and high school where I spent my spare time successfully competing in Science Olympiad and the National Geographic Geography Bee, to my decision to attend the Mackay School of Earth Science and Engineering. My desire to do something useful and important, along with my love of science and math, has made my decision to become a geologist the best choice I ever could have made. I am looking forward to a great future.
Eint Kyi, SA-6277
As a child, my curiosity grew from investigating the world through “instruments” such as my hands and mouth. I was most fascinated with the two vast unknowns that surround Earth’s surface: the deep ocean and space. In my childlike mind, they were the two most intangible areas in this world and, I never expected to find a connection between these two unknowns through Earth sci- ence.
My journey in ultimately discovering my passion for Earth science was a serendipitous encounter. I had arrived at Oberlin College, with a full four year plan to major in Biochemistry and go on to earn a Ph.D in a biomedical field. It was only in my second year of college that I accidentally ended up tak- ing Geology 101 simply to fulfill my credit requirements. At the time, all I knew about geology was similar to the general opinion of my colleagues: geologists lick and identify rocks. However, what I experienced in my first class was a complete opposite that shattered the silly, little assumptions I had about geology. Most of all, I was fascinated by the energy and passion my professor, Bruce Simonson lectured on the topic. The way he talked about geology made me wish I would find something similar I felt so strongly about. Thus, began my decision to major in geology with the hope of finding the same passion Bruce had found.
With every step in my undergraduate career, the field of Earth science has never ceased to amaze me. Since majoring in geology, it has dawned on me that Earth science is a field that unites knowledge from all the other sciences. I never expected so many sub-divisions to exist in Earth science and moreover, I never knew just how significant the field could be in my daily life. Many of the things we use in our lives come from minerals in the Earth such as fluoride in toothpaste from minerals like rutile and ilmenite, yet we often tend to overlook what the Earth provides for us. Personally, pursuing a career in Earth science will allow me to not only investigate the very world that live in but also to remind people of just how precious the world we live in is.
Now as a senior in college looking back, my journey in the field of Earth science has exposed me to numerous adventures whether in marine sciences, petrology, paleontology, miner- alogy, or geophysics. And somewhere along the way, I found something that I can talk about with the same enthusiasm as that of my professors: biogeochemistry. Earth science is an inter- and intra-disciplinary field where knowledge in other science fields can only greatly enhance it. As a result, I was able to combine my two majors in Geology and Biochemistry
and be involved in the field of biogeochemistry. The 21st century is an era where many investigations in science have gone micro. Through biogeochemistry, I wish to study micro- bial activity on rocks near hydrothermal vents and methane seeps. I believe the world of microbes in extreme environments can further the search for the possibility of life on planetary bodies. Astrogeology is an emerging field where our knowledge of Earth can most aid us in understanding other planets and I hope to contribute to the plethora of knowledge with my future research.
Simply put, my reasons in wanting to study Earth science are multiple fold. Personally, the field of biogeochemistry will allow me to do both laboratory and field work– both aspects of Earth science that I love. Moreover, for as long as human beings thrive, Earth science will continue to be an integral area of focus that sheds light on the fine balance we have with Mother Nature. Since many of the environmental changes have been a product of our actions, it is up to Earth scientists to research, inform and educate the society about the world we live in and I strongly wish to be at the frontier of that endeavor. The beauty of Earth science is in the very simple fact that it can be easily integrated into multiple fields of science. Thus, as technology progresses, investigations in Earth science will further extend into space and extraterres- trial life explorations, and when combined with other fields of science, it will be a powerful tool that may possibly save mankind from extinction.
Professionally, my decision to pursue a Ph.D. in Earth science stems from my background. Oberlin’s commitment as a progressive liberal arts college in social justice issues and as the first higher education institution in the country to regularly admit female and black students has greatly influ- enced me. Coming from a low socio-economic background, I witnessed economic barriers and social struggles that not only made me feel fortunate and appreciative of my own situation but also gave me the drive to focus on my education so I can reach a level where I can create opportunities for other eco- nomically and socially disadvantaged children into academics. And by furthering my education career in the Earth science, I wish to build on this experience and help make education more easily accessible. Thus, by going onto graduate school, I hope to refine my skills and explore my curiosity in the field of biogeochemistry so that I will have the tools and education background to enhance educational access to underrepre- sented groups. Through Earth science, I have found a way to connect my childhood curiosity with the oceans and space, and I am excited for the many mysteries that await to be explored.
Hannah Johnson, SA-6258
I never said, when asked in 1st grade, “I want to be a geologist”, instead I said, I want to be an architect, an artist, a teacher, or an archaeologist. I knew, in first grade, I was a tom-boy, liked playing outside, digging in the dirt and exploring in creeks. I just did not know that all of these interests made me fit to be a geologist.
I am fit to be a geologist, but why do I want to be a geolo- gist? The answer is simple, I want a clean environment for humanity, I want to make Ohio a better place to live, I want
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