Girls into Geoscience

Introduction to Earth sciences and careers open to graduates today
Girls into Geoscience field trip 2019

Girls into Geoscience

Introduction to Earth sciences and careers open to graduates today
 
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    University of Plymouth

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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 introduces girls studying A levels or equivalent to Earth sciences and demonstrates the world of careers open to Earth science graduates today.
We're back for our 13th 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.

Timetables

6 July 2026 - Optional Fieldtrip

This year’s fieldtrip will take the girls to the spectacular Dartmoor. Along with amazing views, the girls will be able to look at the geology and geomorphology of this unique landscape to uncover the geological history, and how Dartmoor’s legacy is still important today.

7 July 2026 - GiG Careers and Workshop Day 

09:30 | Arrival and registration 
10:00 | Welcome and introduction (Dr Sarah Boulton, University of Plymouth)
10:15 | To be confirmed (Dr Lucy Campbell, Red Rock Geoscience Ltd.)
10:40 | To be confirmed (Harriet Dawson, Cornish Lithium)
11:05 | Break 
11:15 | The importance of community in global geo resource projects (Claudia Malam, Geothermal Engineering Ltd.)
11:40 | Speaker panel Q&A 
12:10-13:00 | Lunch 
13:05 | Workshop A*
14:05 | Workshop B*
15:15 | University life Q&A panel 
15:45 | Thanks and close
This year's optional fieldtrip will be to the iconic Dartmoor - flyer available soon.
* Choice of 2 workshops from:
  • Physical Geo-modelling of Rock Avalanche-River Interactions and associated hazards (Prof Anne Mather)
  • Palaeoecology, landscapes, people and climate (Dr Jessie Woodbridge and Laura Scoble) 
  • Exploring the Deep Ocean (Dr Jenny Gales)
  • Making a black smoker hydrothermal vent (Dr Michelle Harris and Dr Jess Berry)
Learn more about these workshops below.

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

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Girls into Geoscience Workshops 2026

We have four workshops on offer this year, giving the girls opportunities to get hands-on with different aspects of the geosciences. The girls will be able to select two of the following workshops:

Workshop 1: Physical Geo-modelling of Rock Avalanche–River Interactions and Associated Hazards – Professor Anne Mather
Understanding how landscapes respond to extreme events is crucial for predicting natural hazards. In 2016, the South Island of New Zealand experienced a Mw 7.8 earthquake that triggered a complex sequence of ruptures across more than 20 faults and propagated for 170 km along the coastline. Seismic energy was released for nearly two minutes, generating around 30,000 landslides.The largest rock avalanche (the Hapuku), formed a landslide-dammed lake that later breached. Participants in this workshop will use observations from this event alongside physical simulations on the EM2 Stream Table (a hands-on, interactive river and landscape simulator) to investigate failure mechanisms of landslide dams and downstream impact. 
(Cont. from workshop 1) This workshop blends scientific investigation with creative problem-solving, giving you the opportunity to experiment, observe, and think like geoscientists while engaging with one of the most dramatic landscape processes on the planet.
Workshop 2: Palaeoecology, Landscapes, People and Climate – Dr Jessie Woodbridge and Laura Scoble 
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: Exploring the Deep Ocean – Dr Jenny Gales 
We have only mapped 26% 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 4: Making a Black Smoker Hydrothermal Vent – Dr Michelle Harris and Dr Jessica 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! 
 

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.
Deadline: 5 June 2026

Accommodation

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

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 29 May 2026.
“Girls into Geoscience helped me to decide that this is what I wanted to do.”
In this video, our earth science students share their experiences with the Girls into Geoscience programme and its impact on their choice of where to study.
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.
 

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.