Hi!
My name is Hazel and I’m a Research Fellow on the United Downs Deep Geothermal Project. My particular job title is Research Fellow in Public Understanding of Geothermal Power, which is right up my street as a geologist who studies public engagement, science communication and geoscience cognition. I started out my career working as an Engineering Geologist in Australia, helping to build a major motorway and bridge upgrade just outside of Brisbane in Queensland. Then I decided to change careers and go into science communication, working first in the USA at Mt St Helens volcano, then in the UK at the Natural History Museum in London. Given that I had a background in both science communication and in the geoscience industry when a PhD became available to study how people think and talk about geology in the southwest of England, I had to take it! My PhD study involved looking at how people think about geology, mostly the difference between experts and non-experts, which we call geoscience cognition, and the way that affects the way different people talk about geology.
I made a short video to describe my work – you can view it on YouTube.
My current research for the United Downs project involves a similar process, looking at how people use certain words and ideas when talking about geothermal and how that interacts with the way that different groups of people think about what is happening during the geothermal project. In my spare time, I like to sketch minerals and crystals in bright colours, using a geometric style. Last year I even had an exhibition at Burlington House in London for the Geological Society, which was an amazing experience! I will be up and down to Cornwall over the next few months doing interviews, so if you see me feel free to come and say hi, or drop me a line on twitter, where I tweet about a range of things including geology at @iamhazelgibson!
Dr Hazel Gibson
Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Public Perception of Geothermal Power, Sustainable Earth Institute
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
The United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Project is a partnership of organisations exploring if geothermal power is a viable energy resource for the UK. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Cornwall Council.