2016 AIPG STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
long as it was OK to take them, of course). Maybe I’ll sit in a university office, grading papers and lecturing, and helping students find their true passions and explore their love for geology, like the professors at SIU have done for me. I can’t and won’t be selfish with my love.
The heart wants what it wants. Geology chose me and I fell for him hard. Fossils are my life now. Happiness will be defined in the dictionary by a picture of this girl with a pick in her hand and a Brunton compass on her waist. That’s why I want to be a geologist: for love, for happiness, to inspire, and to play with fossils for the rest of my life. Paleontology has always been in my soul.
Melissa Luna, SA-6422
As a child, I have always wondered how the Earth came to be the dynamic planet that it is today. After countless visits to the Philippines, I was exposed to the effects of the Samar Earthquake as well as the aftermath of the Mount Pinatubo eruption, which gave rise to my love for geology. As I came to learn over the years, our society revolves around nature. We are constantly in demand for water, energy, and other resourc- es that all depend on geology.
By studying the true nature of our planet through both my academics and my travels, I have made it my goal to make a difference by inspiring others to oin me in making our planet a more sustainable environment for generations to come.
As a student, I have been intrigued by how the local geology of an area affects the lifestyle of a region. Until today, people have been affected by the forces of nature, which are all depen- dent on where they live. By understanding the local bedrock, tectonic behavior, and even the nature of fluvial systems, one can take advantage of what nature has to offer and develop both a productive and sustainable lifestyle. Given what I have learned about the natural features around the world, I want to educate others so that they can take advantage of the geological tools that they have at hand. Until my unior year of college, I was solely exposed to studying geology and the society through textbooks. Fortunately, in the winter of 2015, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to a country where I was able to see at first-hand how geology shapes society.
During the winter semester of 2015, I was given the opportunity to study abroad in Taiwan through the Center of Integrative Geosciences at the University of Connecticut. In this course, we studied how various geohazards affect maor cities and villages within the country. As Taiwan is one of the most tectonically active countries in the world, we learned about how skyscrapers had to be stabilized in such a way to prevent severe damage from frequent earthquakes. Also, we learned the various practices that the Taiwanese government put fourth to decrease the negative effects of pollution and increase the quality of the air given the vast amount of coal- fired factories that are operating in the region. By spending a month in a country where it is absolutely necessary to under- stand geology in order to survive, I have made it my goal raise awareness of the importance of protecting the environment to promote both safety and sustainability in our society.
I want to become a geologist because I want to motivate society to protect our planet. In order to do so, my goal is to become an environmental consultant, so that I can learn about the techniques and theories that are used to analyze and manage the effects of air, land, and water contamination. By understanding these techniques, I hope to someday teach others to carry out simple acts to prevent further damage to the environment. As I have learned over the years, it is neces- sary to understand the geological features of an area in order to survive. By educating people on what the environment has to offer, I hope to elicit the value of the planet that we live on and encourage others to oin me in taking a step towards a sustainable future.
Kristina Butler, SA-7010
“I make my vocation my vacation” - economic geologist Joe Kurtak. Joe gave a presentation called “My life as a geologist,” to our geology club a few weeks ago. He has dedicated his career to economic geology in Alaska. Having recently retired, he ended his talk by saying, “I could never be so lucky again.” Joe is ust one of the count- less geologists I have encountered who cannot rave enough about the rewards of choosing a career in geology. As he reminisced on the incredible places he has traveled
for research, the people he has worked with, and the rocks he has studied, I felt so fortunate that I found geology. A career in geology means I get to spend my life doing something I am passionate about. It means that working hard now will allow me to travel for research, collaborate with brilliant scientists, and some day develop a research program that provides stu- dent with the same experience I have had. I think about Joe’s talk frequently as I prepare my graduate school applications and develop my career plan.
Geology was a natural choice for me: traveling, working out- doors, making discoveries, collaboration with brilliant minds, and the integration of many scientific disciplines – these have always been career criteria for me. My parents were English teachers and my family lived all over the world while I was growing up. My upbringing gave me a love for travel, meet- ing new people, and introduced me to many geologic wonders across the globe. The more I learn about geology the more questions I have, the more I want to travel to new places and spend time with rocks I haven’t encountered before. All geolo- gists seem to share this trait, and I have been so humbled by the willingness of many professional geologists to take me under their wing (and often into the field!). Through my undergraduate studies, I have discovered that my research interest lies in sedimentology and stratigraphy. Specifically, I enoy field-based proects and unraveling how landscapes have changed through time. I feel honored every day that I get to spend my time learning about geology and excited for all the knowledge that awaits me. I am confident that geology will be a challenging and fulfilling vocation. Years from now, when I retire from a lifelong career in geology, I know I will be able to say, “I could never be so lucky again.”
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