TAYLA HILL
Masters Student, Otago University Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo, New Zealand.
What is your current role?
I recently graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Geology and Oceanography. This year, I’ll be pursuing a Master’s of Science in Geophysics.
What has your career path been like?
Growing up in Taranaki, I had always had an appreciation for the natural environment. Being bounded by Taranaki Maunga and the Tasman sea I had a growing desire to understand the earth system processes that created them. I wanted to do something where I could turn my passion and appreciation for the outdoors into a career, so geology and oceanography was the perfect degree for me. I’ve been lucky enough to spend my summer at NIWA, working on a project involving the characterisation of the seafloor around methane seep sites offshore of Wairarapa. This study is important because it helps us understand the processes contributing to the slope instability at this area of the seafloor, and if this site has potential for future extraction.
What do you enjoy most about your research? And what made you choose this field?
What I enjoy most about my career path is everyday I’m learning something new about the environment that surrounds me. The thing that truly fascinates me about geophysics in particular, is that we are investigating geology that we can’t really see ourselves. Because of this, we’re constantly using advancing technology to look into the unknown. As of 2019, around 80% of our ocean is unexplored, so studying the seafloor is almost like studying a new planet, so much is still unknown but it’s exciting learning more about what’s hidden within the earth.
What does a typical day of study involve for you?
As I’m still at Uni, most of my days consist of lectures and studying until early hours of the morning. In between lectures I also work as an Earth and Ocean Science lab demonstrator for first year students. My typical day at NIWA has involved a lot of work analysing the seafloor using ArcGIS, a spatial analyst program. This has allowed me to combine different data sets such as bathymetry and backscatter data to create a full, in depth characterising of the study sites located offshore Wairarapa.
What’s advice would you give someone starting out in the same field?
Unfortunately we still live in a society where someone says the word “scientist” the first thing that comes to mind is an old man with crazy electrified hair in a lab coat. I hope that one day, with a society of empowered women in science, when someone asks what a typical scientist looks like, a range of people come to mind. No matter who or what you are, I challenge you in breaking this stereotype, express your diversity whether that be age, gender or culture and collectively turn our passion for geoscience into positive action. We’re all out here on our own learning journeys, but always remember to empower your peers, encourage each other to be the best version of yourself and don’t forget celebrate success and be proud of where you are and where you came from.
Is there anything you find difficult/challenging? If so, how do you deal with this, is there any advice you have for someone in a similar position?
As a young, indigenous woman in science, I often stick out like a sore thumb. Because of this, I always try and get involved with the jobs that the guys normally do. Whether that be loading up the piston core with several 25 kg weights, having a go sailing the research vessel or jumping on the barbie at the field camps. Always challenge yourself and just go for it, don’t let anything ever hold you back, you’ll come out the other side stronger and empowered.
“I hope that one day, with a society of empowered women in science, when someone asks what a typical scientist looks like, a range of people come to mind.
Where are you hoping to end up in your career?
I’m only just starting my master’s, so I have a few more years to go. As an aspiring Marine Geophysicist, I hope that in a few years’ time I will be starting a PhD at the University of Tasmania. Although, my ultimate goal in life is to be a researcher and lecturer. I’ve been inspired by so many great lecturers at my University, I hope that one day I can have people looking up to me the way I’ve looked up to them. I always actively work to encourage people to consider geoscience as a career. Last year, I visited my old high school to share the wonderful world of geology and oceanography, and was so happy to see three young woman who wanted to join the field. I hope I can continue inspiring people to study geoscience through sharing my journey over social media.
What do you see as the next steps forward in your field?
My Masters’ project involves the geophysical and mechanical characterisation of Southland’s serpentinite rocks. Serpentinite, has recently been a rock of interest as it undergoes natural reactions with carbon dioxide, forming new minerals that hold onto the gas, essentially removing it from the atmosphere. My role is to conduct a geophysical survey along a chosen area, to monitor any natural fractures in the rock, to see if we can make use of these to inject carbon dioxide into, or if we need to create our own fractures. If this project is successful, it has the potential to become a large-scale carbon sequestration project, overall turning New Zealand into a global carbon sink.
You can find out more about Tayla’s research and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.