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sustaining us. The interdisciplinary nature of geology and earth science makes me feel optimistic about deepening our knowledge of the planet and contributing significant research that has practical applications for sustenance.
About the Essayist
I am studying Earth Science with a specialization in Geophysics and Petroleum Geology and minors in Environmental Science and Sexuality Studies at The Ohio State University. I am in a paleontology research lab where I have been working on a comparative study of rodents to infer fossil locomotions using their auditory morphology.
Paige Wilms, SA-9748 Wright State University - Ohio Section
Geology is defined as “the science that deals with the earth’s physical structure and substance, its history, and the pro- cesses that act on it.” Geology encom- passes such a broad field of study and there is much of the earth’s history that remains unknown. I want to be a geologist because I want to research, discover, and
experience earth’s unknown history! I aspire to find myself standing in front of a picturesque landscape seconds away from starting my field work. For example, think of the last time you were visually taking in a mountain range or a rift valley and wondering about how and why these views came to be. I recall thinking these thoughts prior to college, which motivated me to take my first geology course. In this course I learned about geologic topics starting at geologic time and fossils and finishing with plate tectonics. Fast forward to the next summer, I found myself wanting to put my newfound knowledge to use. I packed for a trip and drove down the east coast, taking pictures and applying my skillsets to as many geological features I could find. Eager to get my hands on as much of the geological time as I could find, I stopped at gem mines and famous fossil hunting sites. This trip was my first hands-on experience which led me to my true passion, paleontology. After taking my first paleobiology class I was hooked. That semester I started volunteering at the Cincinnati Museum center in the PaleoLab. I was forever changed after I took the jacket off of the first specimen I was working on, a Triceratops horn form the Hell Creek Formation. The best part of this experience was seeing these fossils up close and learning how to prepare these specimens for the public. A huge part of my love for geology is being able to educate people about the world around us. I am a teaching assistant for two different introductory geology courses. Teaching has helped me better myself as a geologist because it allows me to take the concepts I have learned, and to translate them to help other students
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better understand the materials. Teaching has allowed me to broaden others’ minds about geology. I enjoy getting to show students things they have never seen before, or helping them to explain the geologic features they have seen. I also am a supplemental instructor for the introductory geology course. In this role, I create lesson plans and lecture over this mate- rial. Through this, I work with students to find the best way that they learn so I can help them understand the material. I enjoy serving in a role where I get to make geology fun and
accessible to all students. In these courses I am able to share my passion and help students get hands on experiences with the materials. I love the interdisciplinary nature of geology. I appreciate the fact that geology always has more to offer and the progression toward learning more. I want to be a geologist because I never want to stop learning, exploring, and question- ing the natural world and how it came to be.
About the Essayist
Paige Wilms is an Earth Science student at Wright State University. Her research interest is in vertebrate paleontology, specifically chondrichthyans and early fishes.
You have told us why you want to be a geologist. Here’s an opportunity to tell us more about your experiences as students: what you are learning and researching, field experiences, graduate school pursuits, and transition- ing from student to career professional. The Professional Geologist regularly publishes articles on these topics and geology education the Classroom Earth feature. You are invited to share you perspectives for this feature. Please submit articles to the editor at
aipg@aipg.org.
www.aipg.org
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