2008 Graduate Team

• Bridgette's story
• Danielle's story
• Luke's story
• David's story
• Martyn's story
• Alison's story
• Jenna's story

Bridgette's story

I grew up in Tauranga, New Zealand before moving to Dunedin to attend the University of Otago. Upon completion of a Geology and Psychology double degree in 2005, I was offered a Masters project jointly supervised by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (IGNS) and the University of Otago. IGNS also generously funded the project under the aegis of the natural hazards programme.

My Masters thesis, competed in December 2007, investigated the evolution of marine tephra in a 'source to sink' geochemical, sedimentological, and volcanological characterisation study of the Potaka Tephra in the Wanganui Basin, New Zealand. It provides insight into the processes of tephra evolution in a marine environment and makes some important tephra correlation conclusions.

It also provides one of the most complete geochemical data sets available for a New Zealand tephra. This geochemical data has allowed me to draw previously unreported conclusions about the magmatic evolution of the magma that produced the Potaka Tephra. Some interesting results identified during geochemical experimentation and statistical analysis cast considerable doubt on the validity of widely accepted geochemical and statistical methodologies. Both findings, once verified and published, should have a considerable influence on tephra correlation in New Zealand.

I joined the grad program to make the most of varied rotations available in the graduate year. I also hope to make the most of being exposed to the highly skilled staff and high quality facilities available.

My first rotation is with Bridget Ayling and Mark Leonard, investigating induced seismicity associated with hot rock geothermal reservoir development.

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Danielle's story

I originate from Taupo, New Zealand, where I spent the first nine years of my life, before moving to the small Waikato town of Cambridge. I studied for a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science at the University of Waikato in Hamilton. The university's location close to the Tongariro National Park and beaches on both the west and east coasts of the North Island sparked an interest in physical volcanology, sedimentology and coastal sedimentation and oceanography.

My Master's thesis, entitled Shelf-to-slope sedimentation on the north Kaipara continental margin, northwestern North Island, New Zealand, involved describing the type and distribution of sediment and skeletal material present on the poorly known margin. This information was then used to infer the potential source areas of these sediment types and the likely mechanisms of sediment transport from the source areas.

I was attracted to Geoscience Australia's graduate program because it offers the capacity to work on a wide range of projects outside of your area of expertise. This will allow me to gain exposure to new and interesting areas of research and help me be more flexible and adaptable.

My first rotation is with the Seabed Mapping and Characterisation (SMAC) project, describing the geomorphology of the Gifford Guyot.

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Luke's story

Prior to commencing with Geoscience Australia, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Tasmania. I majored in geology for my undergraduate studies, completing courses in exploration geology, geophysics, environmental geology and analytical chemistry. I combined my interest in geology and chemistry for my honours project, Aqueous geochemistry of constructed wetlands treating acid-mine-drainage, to assess the effectiveness of passive treatment systems in the remediation of acidic metal-rich waters.

Furthering my studies, I am currently in the final stages of a PhD at the Australian National University. My postgraduate studies are focused on the cycling of sulfur in recent sulfidic sediments of the Murray River floodplains. Sulfidic sediments have the potential to cause significant landscape degradation and a greater understanding of the driving processes is needed to assist in the management of these systems. During the project I sought out fields broader than my geology background including microbiology and stable isotope investigations.

While Geoscience Australia's graduate program appealed to my interest in tackling new problems and learning new skills, the biggest attraction was the opportunity to learn practical scientific skills in a hands-on manner.

In addition to all the scientific training, the program includes seminars in government, politics, project management, conflict resolution and presentation skills.

My first rotation is with the Coastal Research and Management group, characterising groundwater inputs to the Coorong, a Ramsar listed lagoon in South Australia.

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David's story

Before joining Geoscience Australia, I lived in Melbourne my entire life. I graduated from the University of Melbourne in December 2007 with a double degree in Geomatic Engineering (Honours) and Information Systems.

My honours thesis was entitled Vessel detection and sensor platform considerations for maritime surveillance with polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and was sponsored by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). I have previously worked for DSTO, the Royal Melbourne Dental Hospital and Snowy Hydro.

I was attracted to Geoscience Austrlalia's graduate program by the ability to choose my own projects anywhere within the organisation, as well as being able to try projects which are completely unrelated to my previous experience.

My first rotation is in the Marine and Coastal Environment Group, looking at nitrogen fixation in the Darwin Harbour intertidal mudflats.

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Martyn's story

Originally from New Zealand, I lived in the UK for 6 years, before moving to Australia to undertake a Bachelor of Environmental Science at the University of Wollongong. I chose the University of Wollongong for the multi-disciplinary nature of the course offered and the strength of the research being conducted within the School of Earth and Environmental Science. I graduated with first class honours at the end of 2007. My honours project investigated the historical and projected impact of sea-level rise on the geomorphology of several Wollongong beaches.

I was encouraged to investigate the Geoscience Australia graduate program while looking for opportunities to conduct research outside of academia. Geoscience Australia offers access to world class geoscientific research, targeted development and training program, and prospect of being involved in solving some of Australia's key environmental problems, and this is exactly what I was looking for. It was an opportunity too good to miss, even though it meant moving away from the coastal geomorphology I had come to know so well.

My first rotation is with the National Mapping group, investigating the potential of cartographic representations in the automation of topographic map production.

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Alison's story

I grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, where I completed a Bachelors of Science, Postgraduate Diploma of Science, and Master of Science at the University of Auckland, before moving to Canberra to join Geoscience Australia.

My studies were predominantly in the fields of geophysics and structural geology. In my master's thesis I used gravity and magnetic methods to investigate the structure and evolution of the southern Hauraki Rift and Kaimai Range in the North Island of New Zealand.

I look forward to working in and learning about a number of fields in different areas of the organisation.

My first rotation will involve investigating the Lapstone Structural Complex located west of Sydney, with the aim of identifying evidence for recent tectonism.

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Jenna's story

Having moved frequently throughout regional Victoria during my schooling, I finally left the nest (which was Wodonga, at the time) and moved to Canberra to begin university.

After completing a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Chemistry and Earth Sciences, at the Australian National University (ANU), I undertook an honours year investigating impact processing of Apollo 17 lunar impact-melt breccias. These melt rocks herald from the edge of the Serenitatis basin, a multi-ring impact crater formed during the 'late heavy-bombardment' period, approximately 4.2-3.8 Ga. I used electron-probe microscopy and laser ablation ICPMS to examine the effects of cumulative lunar impacts on the partitioning of highly siderophile elements between major phases associated with micron-sized Fe-Ni alloy particles, which were introduced to the lunar crust by asteroids. Examining impact processing of melt rocks is useful in determining the nature of impactors and planetesimals in the early Solar System, to identify the geochemical effects of massive impact, as well as tracing the history of complex reworking of the upper lunar crust.

I discovered the graduate program at Geoscience Australia halfway through my honours year and realised that it was exactly the kind of training year I needed to launch my career as a scientist. I was very excited to be accepted into the program and am especially pleased by the chance to gain experience in areas of earth sciences that are new to me.

My first rotation is in the continental geophysics group, looking at depths to the Curie temperature isotherm, to more accurately profile crustal temperature at depth.