Kirstie Wright

visiting Stromboli to observe the eruption activity.

logging sedimentary core material.

a seismic image across a rifted basin filled with sedimentary rocks, an example of the data I work with (data is freely available from the Oil and Gas Authority National Data Repository).

Looking at the rocks on a field trip.

Using various methods to cope in academia with dyslexia, in this case coloured backgrounds to stop words moving around on the page.

I am involved in a project called North Sea Core, where we collect and distribute unwanted geological material to the geoscience community for science communication, education and research.

“Hi I’m Kirstie, I’m a Geoscientist who studies volcanic and sedimentary systems. I am currently working as a Postdoc at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, investigating deep-water sedimentary systems and submarine landslides in Indonesia. By doing this, I hope to understand the risk of tsunamis generated by the landslide and the potential impact they might have on the surrounding coastlines.

I have dyslexia but was only officially diagnosed when I went to university to do my undergraduate degree. I have always struggled with reading, writing and numbers and I found school incredibly difficult. Overtime I have gained techniques to help me cope with having dyslexia, but I often have to worked harder to assimilate information or communicate what I’m doing. However I don’t think it’s all bad, as I have learnt to think visually, be innovative and I'm great at pattern recognition, all which are very useful in a science like Geology, which mixes physical and theoretical elements.

I’m pretty obsessed with rocks in general and I’m focused on pursing geoscience through both my research and science outreach. In addition to my day job, I help run a small company called North Sea Core which collects and distributes unwanted geological material to the geoscience community for science communication, education and research. I think its really important for others to get the chance to discover geology and for us to communicate what earth science is all about!”

You can find out more about Kirstie and what she is up to on her website: www.rocksandwiggles.com

Instagram: @rocksandwiggles

Twitter: @rocksandwiggles