International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Tamarah said she fell in love with geology while undertaking a Bachelor of Science degree.

“I loved discovering the entire history of Earth could be uncovered by understanding the forces that shape rocks and landscapes,” she said.

“Since then, I’ve been hooked on uncovering the stories within the rocks and landscapes around us.”

But while she discovered a passion for seismology during university, she was shocked by the gender disbalance around her.

“I can think of less than 15 women who have had established careers in the field of Australian earthquakes and seismic hazard, over more than a century of published research,” she said.

Tamarah said she was fascinated by the mystery of why Australia has a long history of earthquakes, despite not being on a tectonic plate boundary.

“Australia sits far from tectonic plate boundaries and the rocks and landscapes are mostly ancient. However, for reasons we don’t fully understand yet, Australia has a rich record of earthquakes and active faulting compared to other similar regions far from plate boundaries. That tectonic mystery fascinates me, and I’ve been on a hunt for scientific answers ever since!

“Even if they don’t realise it, Australians are being supported by Geoscience Australia every day in a million little ways. From having access to groundwater and energy, accurate and fast navigation, safe buildings and infrastructure, and timely warnings and notification of natural hazards, our work is touching lives every day.”

For example, the Positioning Australia program aims to improve the overall accuracy of point positioning in Australia from meters to centimetres. It is also helping us better understand the Australian tectonic plate movement.

Geoscience Australia Team Lead for the Australian Geospatial Reference Frame Dr Jami Zannat helps ensure accurate and reliable positioning and navigation in Australia through maintaining Australia’s GPS reference points.

Jami used space geodesy to track shifts in the Earth’s crust caused by earthquakes and their impact on our geodetic reference frames as part of her PhD research. She is amazed that precisely determining our location on Earth requires knowing the exact position of satellites in space—about 20,000 km away.

“Our work supports reliable GPS functionality in smartphones and cars and help autonomous navigation systems,” she said.

“It also enables improvements in farming practices, aviation safety, and disaster management and response, and even weather modelling.”

Jami said her passion for Earth science deepened when she started to work with geodetic data at Geoscience Australia.

“We are continually improving real-time positioning in Australia, and it’s a thrilling challenge that involves not only maintaining a massive positioning infrastructure but also staying ahead of cutting-edge data analysis and high-performance computing technologies.”

Education Officer Emily Robson said the everyday applications of Earth science are what sparked her interest in the field and drive her passion to share this knowledge with students, teachers and community members at Geoscience Australia’s Education Centre.

“The work we do at Geoscience Australia impacts everyone’s lives, often in ways people may not realise,” she said.

“Understanding the Earth’s systems is essential because it underpins our ability to tackle some of the biggest challenges such as sustainable resource management and climate change.

“By studying the past, we gain the knowledge needed to solve the problems of the future. Our work provides trusted, fundamental insights into how our planet works and how it’s changed over time. Ultimately, we only have one planet, and it’s something that connects us all.”

Low-carbon geoscientist Claire Patterson is working to solve some big problems, focused on geologic decarbonisation technologies and resources.

She was drawn to Earth science when she took an elective subject during the first year of her medical science degree, falling in love with the opportunity for creativity and interconnectedness of our planet.

“There are lots of opportunities for creativity and problem solving in Earth and marine sciences, especially as the world transitions to a more sustainable and lower emissions future,” she said.

While the diversity and interconnected nature of Earth science first captured Claire’s interest, the everyday applications and impact of Geoscience Australia’s work is what she thinks all Australians need to know about.

“Earth sciences are vital for understanding how people can benefit from and influence Earth’s natural systems, so that we can work towards more sustainable management of our planet and the life it supports.”

In 2023 Geoscience Australia became the first Australian organisation to be awarded with three Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Cygnet Awards in recognition of its commitment to embed genuine and sustainable gender equity, and a diverse and inclusive workplace culture.

Geoscience Australia Chief Executive Officer, Dr James Johnson, said he is proud of how far the organisation has come to become a more diverse and inclusive workplace.

“Over my time as Chief Executive Officer we have identified the need to attract a workforce that reflects the diversity of Australian communities by providing a more flexible workplace,” Dr Johnson said.

“I’m always inspired by the wonderful women at Geoscience Australia. Identifying, reducing and removing barriers that are preventing people from fully contributing to our workplace is everyone’s business. An inclusive work environment is essential for us to help solve some of Australia’s most pressing challenges and deliver ground-breaking science.

“I hope highlighting the wonderful work being done by incredible women at Geoscience Australia will help young Australians see a future they can be a part of.”