Profile
Kirstie Wright
My CV
-
Education:
Bishop Stopford School | University College Northampton | University of Leicester | Durham University
-
Qualifications:
GCSE’s (A-C) | A’ levels (A in Geology, C in Art, Biology and General Studies) | Foundation diploma in Fine Art (Merit) | MGeol Degree (1st Class Hons) | PhD
-
Work History:
Cleaner | Nursery school assistant | Bar staff | Geoscience technical assistant | Geoscientist | Post-doctoral research associate
-
Current Job:
Post-doctoral research associate at Heriot-Watt University / Director of North Sea Core CIC
-
About Me:
I am a Geoscientist who is interested in volcanic and deep marine sedimentary rocks. I spend most of my time looking at data that images rocks buried deep beneath our feet.
-
Read more
I currently live in Scotland which is the birth place of UK geology! My work includes trying to understanding how sediments fill a basin, to how volcanic rocks are emplaced, to using legacy data from oil and gas exploration to help the energy transition. I’m pretty obsessed with rocks, fossils and dinosaurs in general but also love art, fantasy books and cats. I’m dyslexic, so can have trouble with reading and writing, but it doesn’t stop me from being a good scientist.
Pronouns She/Her
-
Read more
I have had a non-traditional career so far. I currently work as a academic researcher at a University but have also worked as a geoscientist in the petroleum industry. Both have been very interesting and I have worked with a diverse range of people. During my PhD I studied ancient volcanic rocks to work out what happened and compare them to other examples. Although I work on different things now, I still love studying volcanic rocks!
After my PhD I went to work for a Oil and Gas company. Petroleum Geoscience is not very popular right now but it is important to remember that even during the Energy Transition, we need oil and gas to keep the lights on and to make many of the renewable energy technologies.
I have been able to use the skills gained during my PhD and employment to be a better researcher. I now use the same skills to work on understanding submarine landslides and tsunamis. Just because you start off in one career, doesn’t mean you have to stay there!
-
My Typical Day:
I am not a morning person, so it takes me a while to get going. I like to have a cup of coffee while I check my emails, then I spend my day either interpreting data, reading research papers or writing down my findings to show other geoscientists what the Earth looked like in the past.
-
Read more
In normal circumstances, I work in an office at the University but right now I work from home and connect to my computer in my office. Most days are spent trying to work out what happened to sediments that used to be on the coastline but is now deep under the ocean and how it got there. I do this so I can work out if it caused a tsunami and if the same thing was to happen today, would it also cause a tsunami. This is really important because lots of people live along the coastline and would need to be warned!
Right now I work from home and connect to the computer in my office to use a range of special software to look at data that images the rocks beneath the Earth’s surface. This is done by using sound waves, similar to using an ultrasound to image a baby. This is turned into an image that gives an impression of the rocks and structures km’s down. This can be used to reconstruct how the rocks came to be formed and tells us the geological history of the area.
If I’m on field work, my work can be very different! It can depend on which country I’m in, the weather and what kind of field work I am doing. I will often spend my whole day outside looking at rocks/collecting rocks/taking pictures of rocks… I’ve done field work in the UK, Spain, the Alps, Tenerife, Iceland and the USA. I was meant to be going to Indonesia for my current research, but it was sadly cancelled.
-
What I'd do with the prize money:
I would use the money to help distribute rocks and other geological samples to schools so they can use them to help explain how the Earth is made and get students interested in Earth Science.
-
What I do to help Planet Earth:
I make an effort to recycle everything I can, including food waste. I no longer own a car and take public transport. I always try to being a reusable cup and bag and I have made a decision to not upgrade my phone until it is broken beyond fixing, so fingers crossed!!
-
The CHRISTMAS LECTURE related to my work:
Outside of my day job I run a small company called North Sea Core CIC which collected and redistributes geological samples. These were lent to the Royal Institution for the first Christmas Lecture ‘Engine Earth’ to show the record of environment and climate that can be preserved by the rocks.
Lecture 1 – Engine Earth, at 08:00 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000qpjk/royal-institution-christmas-lectures-2020-planet-earth-a-users-guide-1-engine-earth
-
My Interview
-
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
I like rocks
What did you want to be after you left school?
An archaeologist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes. Lots...
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Royal Deluxe
What's your favourite food?
Salt and chill squid rings
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Be better at maths. Learn a new language. Be able to get up early in the mornings.
Tell us a joke.
What do you call a famous geologist? A rock star...
-