Young Professional

Wearing: Blouse and shoes from Asos, trousers from Target. 
 
Last week I presented my research to the academics from my faculty and managed to memorise everything that I wanted to say. All in all my presentation went for fifteen minutes, followed by five minutes of questions. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to present my research to others, but I also managed to impress the structural geologists and gophysicists. As a paleontologist, and the only one from my cohort studying fossils I was bound to stand out, but I'm so relieved everything went well. My supervisors were also pleased that I was able to place my work within the context of previous research, and emphasise why the project was important. Dressing in an outfit which made me feel sassy and confident was a big help though, these shoes were a little uncomfortable new, but that kind of helped me not fidget or move on the spot. While we were never explicitly told what the dress code was, I was more interested in those who were wearing business casual. This is obviously really different than what I tend to wear day to day, but I do love the blouse I bought!

Dream Cave

Wearing: Josh Goot dress, Perks and Mini hat and Rubi shoes platforms.
 
So I've mentioned a bunch of times that I'm a geologist and specifically a palaeontologist but I've never really showed off any knowledge. It's only now that through obsessively thinking about the importance of science communication in society that I've wanted to combine my love of science with fashion and creating interesting outfits. When I talk to my friends from geology they all talk about collecting rocks from their field area or places they've been, but what draws them in is an aesthetic taste. Obviously they also understand the theoretical framework and environment in which those rocks forms which enhances their understanding but fundamentally they like the shiny pretty things. I've also come to understand how important it is to break the construct of a scientist. Ultimately I want to change the way people come to view and interact with scientists, and in particular encourage young girls and women to pursue a career in science.

5, 10, 12, 21, 27- Glitterous Clitoris. 2- Kentallenite in cross polarized light. 3- via. 6- Olivine teschenite thin section in cross-polarized light. 9- Metamorphic rocks in Canada, by Les Palenik. 13- Gassets Schist in cross polarized light. 16- Gneiss. 17- high-pressure schist in cross-polarized light via KLKGeo. 20- Kentallenite in cross-polarized light. 23- Kentallenite in cross-polarized light. 24 & 26- Migmatite in the Sand River, South Africa shot by Pierre Thomas for Planet Terre. 30- Leucogranite via University of Maryland.

I'm a Scientist Too

So this is something I've managed to avoid or at least delay for the last three or so years. Now that I'm a month into my honours and have technically finishing my undergrad degree it's time to face facts: I'm a scientist. It's something that I've only ever mentioned in passing, or heavily down played under some kind of false modesty because saying it out loud on the Internet is an incredibly scary thing. I felt taking pride in my achievements would make me some kind of bad person, but I should be proud that I have a BSc with a double major in geology and a double minor in biology. I suppose I was reluctant to address this at the end of last year while I waited to receive the news on whether I had been accepted into honours. I've always kept quiet about this because I felt concerned that this would somehow make my opinions about fashion less valid. The other scenario is that researchers would find my fashion blog and that my academic work would be taken less seriously. The worst scenario is that I would be forced out of science on the basis that I like clothing. It's taken me a very long time but I've finally realised that one shouldn't detract from the other and anyone who thinks so is not worth my time. Unfortunately the fact remains that some very influential people within science may object to how I dress.


My project is on palaeontology and focuses on the analysis and identification of organic inclusions in amber from south-eastern Australia. Basically I'm looking for plant material as well as any insects and other invertebrates. I'd like to think that I'm doing work related to Jurassic Park, but without the cloning and addition of frog DNA (plus genetic material has a half-life on the scale of thousands of years rather than millions of years but whatever). So far it's been a lot of work but I've been very lucky to work on a project which I love and am already considering a PhD next year- if I get the grades.

Thank you to Annika Victoria from the Pineneedle Collective for largely inspiring this discussion and giving me the courage to give form to these thoughts. By keeping silent for so long about my involvement in science I was actually contributing to the perpetuation of a stereotype that scientists are always white straight cis men and usually upper or middle class. Dismantling this pre-conceived idea not only helps the next generation of budding scientists, but also helps women already in science (of which, there are few). The women who are in science are typically stereotyped as some kind of hero for balancing their home and work life. This is something I've discussed with a good friend from university and we're both sick and tired of hearing this repeated over and over again. 

*Photos via Rookie Mag: Dinosaur Jr