Girls into Geoscience

Introduction to Earth sciences and careers open to graduates today
Girls into Geoscience field trip 2019
 
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Girls into Geoscience (GiG) is becoming more than just an event. It has become a network, supporting women in geology and those aspiring to be. Get involved!
This exciting event will introduce female, those who identify as female, and non binary A level students to the Earth sciences and demonstrate the world of careers open to Earth science graduates today.
We're back for our 12th event this July with even more workshops, talks, Q&As, and of course the chance to get out in the field with some of our female geoscientists.

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE

9:30 | Arrival and registration
10:00 | Welcome and introduction ( Professor Sarah Boulton , University of Plymouth)
10:15 |Title to be confirmed (Amy Stewart, Heidelberg Materials)
10:40 | My Career and the Jurassic Coast (Saskia Elliott, Science Communicator)
11:05 | Break
11:15 | Exploring Volcanoes from Summit to Seafloor (Dr Nemi Walding, Kelpie Geoscience Ltd)
11:40 | Speaker panel Q&A
12:10–13:00 | Lunch
13:05 | Workshop A
14:05 | Workshop B
Choice of two workshops from: Palaeoecology, Landscapes, people and climate (Laura Scoble and Nika Shilobod) • Exploring earthquake-induced landslides and their impact through satellite imagery analysis (Professor Anne Mather) • Making a black smoker hydrothermal vent (Dr Michelle Harris and Dr Jess Berry) • Exploring the deep ocean (Dr Jenny Gales) • (De)coding earthquakes (Dr Constanza Rodriguez Piceda)
15:15 | University life Q&A panel
15:45 | Thanks and close

Email girlsintogeoscience@plymouth.ac.uk if you wish to contact us.

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Girls into Geoscience Workshops 2025

Please rank your top four activities.

We will aim to allocate you your top choices of workshop. However, this will be on a first come, first served basis. Many thanks!

Workshop 1: Exploring earthquake-induced landslides and their impact through satellite imagery analysis – Professor Anne Mather
On 6 September 2018, just after Typhoon Jebi, a powerful 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck Hokkaido, Japan, at 3:08am. Centred beneath the port city of Tomakomai, the quake caused strong shaking, particularly north of the city. Combined with weak hillslope materials, such as pumice previously erupted from Mount Tarumae and sedimentary rocks, the shaking led to widespread slope failures.
In this workshop, we will use historic satellite imagery to analyse where the earthquake’s impact on the landscape and local communities was most strongly felt, and why.
Workshop 2: Palaeoecology, landscapes, people and climate – Laura Scoble and Nika Shilobod
Come and explore how the fossil remains of plants (pollen) and algae (diatoms) preserved in lake and peat bogs for thousands of years are used to investigate past human-environment interactions and changes in global climate. Get hands-on experience of examining microfossils using light microscopes and reconstruct 10,000 years of environmental change in just 30 minutes!
Workshop 3: Making a black smoker hydrothermal vent – Dr Michelle Harris and Dr Jess Berry
Deep sea hydrothermal vents are spectacular seafloor features, host unique ecosystems, may be where life first developed and make metal rich mineral deposits! But what makes a black smoker hydrothermal vent and how does seawater transform into these acidic, metal rich fluids? The answer lies beneath in the volcanic rocks that make up the seafloor.
In this workshop we will go beneath the seafloor and down to the microscopic level to use the minerals and textures to find out just what makes a black smoker hydrothermal fluid and look at a massive sulphide deposit at super high magnification with our SEM!
Workshop 4: Exploring the deep ocean – Dr Jenny Gales
We have only mapped 20% of the global ocean and know more about the surface of Mars than we do about our seafloor! Get hands-on learning how experts map and measure seafloor features like submarine volcanoes, canyons, seamounts and landslides.
In this workshop you will learn how bathymetry is collected and how to create and understand seafloor maps, revealing true hidden submerged landscapes!
Workshop 5: (De)coding earthquakes – Dr Constanza Rodriguez Piceda
Earthquakes can change the landscape in a matter of seconds. Big earthquakes don’t happen often, but when they do, they can impact entire populations. The problem is that scientists have only been able to detect earthquakes for a short time, so we don’t have many records of past large ones. To solve this, scientists use computers to simulate earthquakes over thousands of years.
In this workshop you’ll get a hands-on experience in modelling earthquakes on a computer and exploring the invisible forces that make the Earth shake. No coding experience is needed!
 

Attending the event

Registrations

If you are an individual student who would like to attend the event, please fill in this form.
If you are a teacher who would like to bring a group of your students to the event, please fill in this form.

Bursary

We are really pleased to be able to offer a small number of bursaries to cover travel and accommodation for those students who might otherwise be unable to attend the event. We want to help provide you with every opportunity to fulfil your ambitions! Thanks to University of Plymouth for supporting these bursaries this year.
This funding is available to eligible girls who would benefit from the funding, and whom meet any of the selection criteria outlined alongside.
• If you have any disabilities (physical, cognitive or learning)
• If you are from an ethnic minority
• If you are a looked after young person (i.e. in foster care/care leaver)
• If you are a first generation student to go to university
• If you are eligible for free school meals
• If you live in a postcode area where there is low participation in higher education (as identified by the Office for Students).
Due to the limited nature of the funding, and our hope to help as many girls as possible, the bursaries will be awarded to those who would benefit most from this fund, following an application using the form below.
Any questions about this form or your eligibility please contact girlsintogeoscience@plymouth.ac.uk
The deadline for applications is Friday 31 May 2025.

Accommodation

Accommodation is available in our Francis Drake University hall of residence and booking information can be requested when registering for the event.

Launched in 2014, more than 1,800 pupils from schools across the UK and Ireland have participated in this pioneering event.

Here Dr Jodie Fisher, Co-founder of Girls into Geoscience, explains how this exciting event will introduce female A level students to the Earth sciences and demonstrate the world of careers open to earth science graduates today.
GiG received the Geological Society's R H Worth Award for 2018 , presented in recognition of achievements in outreach, public engagement and/or education. This has been followed by a University of Plymouth Vice-Chancellor Award for Equality Diversity of Inclusivity in 2023, and in 2024 the Curry Fund Certificate of Excellence by the Geologists' Association.
 

SAVE THE DATE: Girls into Ocean Science | 31 October 2025

You may also be interested in our first ever Girls into Ocean Science event which focuses on marine science.
Designed for young women those who identify as female, and non-binary sixth form students, this free event offers a unique opportunity to explore oceanography through hands-on activities and inspiring talks from leading female scientists.

Find out more about the event

In the field in Antarctica
 

Event photography and video

Please be aware that some of the University of Plymouth's public events (both online and offline) may be attended by University staff, photographers and videographers, for capturing content to be used in University online and offline marketing and promotional materials, for example webpages, brochures or leaflets. If you, or a member of your group, do not wish to be photographed or recorded, please let a member of staff know.