Pamela is currently in her final year of studying Earth Science. She is delighted to be joining the Ol Doinyo Lengai expedition team in 2015 in her role as the Geology and Fieldwork Coordinator, where she is responsible for organising field training and ensuring each team member has an understanding of the aims and purpose of fieldwork.

 

Pamela will bring her experience in both fieldwork and teamwork to the team, gained both during her time at university and through volunteering and internships. She has undertaken numerous geological mapping field courses; most recently completing three weeks independent mapping the Northern Marginal Zone on the Isle of Rum. In the summer of 2014, Pamela completed a four week internship with INVOLCAN (Institute of Volcanology in the Canary Islands), in collaboration with GeoTenerife. This involved volcanic surveillance for risk reduction and geothermal exploration, by means of soil diffuse degassing surveys. She spent the majority of the time in La Palma, working along the active volcanic ridge of Cumbre Vieja, and also on the northern rift zone of Tenerife. During this internship, Pamela received an award for scientific communication by means of social media. She will use this experience in the maintenance of the social media presence of the team, using Facebook and Twitter to gain exposure of the expedition and promote fundraising events. Pamela is also undertaking STEM ambassador training in order to improve her skills in scientific communication and to promote the expedition and engage with the public.

 

The previous year, Pamela spent two months in the south of England, working as a geochemical sampler and analyst, in a team of twelve, for the British Geological Survey’s geochemical baseline survey. The campaign involved the collection of stream sediments and water samples carried out in teams of two, which required efficient co-operation and teamwork in order to follow time-restricted methodical sampling procedures. The fieldwork contributed to the on-going survey of the UK, producing geochemical baseline data maps, relevant to mineral exploration and many environmental issues.

 

Pamela wishes to continue her academic career in the field of volcanology after graduating and is excited to be involved in and contributing to research on the world’s only active carbonatite volcano.