The School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Casey Blundell

Casey studies how continents are built, from the formation of rocks through to how they deform and break. Casey secured a large amount of external funding during her PhD, which has enabled her to self-fund analyses and attend a number of conferences. We asked Casey some questions about what she thinks is the key to a happy life and successful PhD.

What originally made you want to do a PhD on continent building in New Zealand?

I wanted to work on a project that improved our understanding of tectonic processes, using methods that help predictions of what is happening beneath the surface by exploiting natural rock properties including conductivity, magnetism and density ("potential field data"). I also wanted a project that required investigation at multiple scales from less than mm-scale, to outcrop scale, to tens of kilometres and a project with lots of fieldwork, because I love being in the field. I had worked with a previous PhD student in their field area in Kaikoura, New Zealand, and I knew I wanted to return to work in NZ because it is tectonically 'young', dynamic, and beautiful!

What advice would you give someone just starting their PhD now?

Be honest with yourself. Be ambitious but realistic. Work at your own pace and don't compare yourself with others - your project may not be comparable. Talk regularly with your supervisor and colleagues about your work and don't be too proud to ask for help. If you find someone else's project immensely AWESOME, there's a good chance they think the same about yours - don't be shy in sharing it! If you find some aspect of your work especially interesting - take the time to investigate it properly. It might take your project in a novel and exciting direction you had never considered! Don't be afraid to direct your work - you're the one doing it. Get excited over small things! It's contagious, and motivating.
ALWAYS celebrate the wins. Don't get discouraged when things don't work out - they don't, more often than not. Keep going.
Keep your friends close and encourage an open dialogue with others about how you're feeling - be honest.

Whether you feel like you can, or you can't, you're right. There will be days when you 'can't' - acknowledge them early and excuse yourself. No-one ever wishes they spent just one more day at work. Take yourself out for a coffee and tick off life admin tasks instead.

What is your dream job?

A role that lets me keep my finger on the pulse academically, but also positions me to communicate science more effectively in a government role or with industry.

What is one change you want to see in relation to women and girls in science?

Intelligence, curiosity and drive are qualities we should nurture in girls from a young age, and we need more women who embody these qualities to provide positive, accessible role models and mentors for girls and women.

What is something that you love doing that not many people would know about?

I love gardening. I also love listening to grand orchestral pieces really loudly when I take the 4WD through the carwash - try it.

Dongxia (Dawn) Yang

Dawn is a climate scientist who studies how the temperature in tropical oceans influences movement of rainfall bands in the Southern hemisphere. Her research facilitates adaptation to climate change, particularly for the agricultural industry.

Has there been a stand-out highlight of your PhD so far?

I would say my oral presentation in AMOS Annual Conference in Darwin last year is a highlight of my research. I talked about the relative roles of external forcing and internal climate drivers for the poleward shift of the eddy-driven jet based on a new methodology using novel climate model (CESM pacemaker) simulations, which leads to some further discussions afterwards.

What qualities do you think a good mentor should possess?

1. Empathy to understand the feelings of students;
2. Willingness to share knowledge and build networks for the student;
3. Giving practical solutions when students face technical difficulties.

Have you ever considered a career outside science? If so, what in?

A research job is my preference after PhD completion but given the fierce competition, I would also consider positions related to climate adaptation and climate response in government or companies.

What is one change you want to see in relation to women and girls in science?

I would like to see our girls and women in science be more supportive of each other, particularly, more technical-sharing meet-ups like python coding and more career experience-sharing, like how to apply for grants and funds.

Roseanna McKay

Roseanna is a climate scientist, studying what drives high temperatures in Australia during Spring. Roseanna is pictured driving the marine research vessel, RV Investigator.

What originally made you want to do a PhD?

I was talking to farmers near Adelaide about how to access Bureau of Meteorology climate data, and I was surprised by how little they knew about the information available. I was particularly surprised by how little they knew about how their climate was changing (though they all agreed that the, 'ground doesn't squish the way it used to' in winter) or what they needed to do to be prepared. I decided if I learnt more about our climate and climate change, then I can help farmers, and others like them. We know that our climate is changing and we know that change is from human activities, but a lot of people still seem confused about that. If we keep spreading climate science information people will be more inclined to listen and act.

What advice would you give someone just starting their PhD now?

Set up a good support network early, with a wide range of people from different parts of your life (your family probably won't understand what you're going through, but it's good to talk to people outside of academia too). A PhD is a mountain of work, and sometimes that mountain can feel insurmountable, but if you keep chipping away at it, keep being kind to yourself, and have the support of a good network of people, you will get there. You can do it!

What qualities do you think a good mentor should possess?

A good mentor should have the right balance between kindness and empathy, but also know when to give you a firm push to keep you on track. They should be able to be understanding and supportive when things go wrong, but also give criticism when needed. The best mentors inspire you to do your own best work.

What is one change you want to see in relation to women and girls in science?

We need to see more positive female role models in science to appear on TV, internet, and social media. If kids can see more women doing amazing science, then it'll be easier for girls to see themselves doing amazing science when they grow up, and for boys to be excited to have female science colleagues. At the moment, it feels like the science is portrayed as something hard and boring and, 'not for me', and that's simply not true. Science can be really exciting and rewarding, no matter who you are.

What is something that you love doing that not many people would know about?

I love playing Dungeons and Dragons with my friends. I like being able to interact with a world composed by our imaginations and use our brains and dice rolls to solve the imaginary world's problems.

Qiushi Guan

Qiushi uses computer modelling to figure out how rare earth metals behave in geological environments in order to better understand ore-forming processes deep within Earth. We asked Qiushi about her inspiration and the highs and lows of doing a PhD.

What originally made you want to do a PhD on your topic?

I used to be a physical student and my research area was computational chemistry. Then I found my PhD project which combines advanced supercomputers and state-of-the-art in-situ synchrotron techniques to solve geological questions. I was interested because I can apply what I’ve learnt to a new area and also learn many new things.

Has there been a stand-out highlight of your PhD so far?

Presenting my first paper’s work in 2019 at the Goldschmidt conference in Barcelona.

What advice would you give someone just starting their PhD now?

Expect to work independently; it’s normal to feel frustrated, just learn from it and move on; be ready to learn because there will always new things to discover since our research is in an area that has not previously been touched.

What is your dream job?

I would like to work at a university or research institution after graduating because I’ve always enjoyed the atmosphere in universities.

Anindita Samsu

Anung recently completed her PhD, which focussed on fractures (cracks) in the Earth’s crust, which hold and transport natural resources. We asked Anung about the highlights of her PhD and what she does when she’s not working.

What was the highlight of your PhD?

My first oral presentation at a conference, over two years into my project, was the first time I felt like "a real scientist". I got a surprising amount of positive feedback, which gave me the confidence boost I needed to see my project through.

What advice would you give someone just starting their PhD now?

1. Keep showing up, even when things get tough.
2. Reach out if you need help. It’s not a sign of weakness.
3. Dedicate time to something you love to do that is unrelated to your PhD.

What qualities do you think a good mentor should possess?

A good mentor is willing to take time out of their day to just sit down, be present, and have a conversation about your progress, goals, and wellbeing. Ideally, that person is also well-connected. Not in the sense that they know everyone, but they are able to point you to opportunities that align with your strengths and interests (e.g., open positions, grants, another relevant person you could talk to).

Have you ever considered a career outside science? If so, what in?

Not since I started uni, though I have fantasised about opening a café where I serve pancakes and offer trail running tours.

What is your dream job?

I’d love to get involved in geothermal energy projects, either in academia or industry. However, it’s equally important to me that I work within a good team, live in a nice part of the world (close to nature, preferably mountains), and am able to maintain a good work/life balance.

What is one change you want to see in relation to women and girls in science?

A stronger female presence across all science disciplines and especially in senior roles. One example: During my PhD, my supervisors, milestone panel members, co-authors on publications, and known reviewers were all men, which speaks volumes on the gender (im)balance in my current field of structural geology and tectonics. The support we receive from men can be tremendous. However, when it comes to certain matters that impact our career, women and girls can really benefit from discussions with female mentors and role models from the same field.

What is something that you love doing that not many people would know about?

Running ultramarathons - I've only done a few, but they have been some of the best days of my life.