Project Leaders
Deirdre Dragovich
University of Sydney
I am a geomorphologist, interested in landscape change and human impacts on the physical environment. I studied for my Bachelors degree at the University of Adelaide in South Australia, worked as a tutor in geography at the University of Adelaide and the University of Western Australia, and subsequently joined the lecturing staff at the University of Sydney where I gained my PhD.
I have worked in capital-city universities as a geomorphologist specialising in weathering and erosion. Even in cities where the “field” is somewhat constrained, on-site observations and the data collection involved in fieldwork are key components of earth science endeavours. Building stone and monuments have provided me with numerous opportunities for city-based studies, in addition to research projects on desert varnish in the amazing landscapes of arid Australia.
My geomorphological work has useful applications in managing erosion in forestry operations and on walking trails in national parks, as well as contributing to establishing a planning framework for managing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural places.
Science is an excuse to engage in things I enjoy, especially assisting in improving environmental management and in travel. Travelling allows for visits to new landscapes and for attempts at explaining why these landscapes are unique, or in what ways they are similar to those in other places. Once landscape processes are understood, better-directed policies can be developed for managing the environment.
Gary Lewis
Geological Society of America
My name is Gary Lewis and I have been involved in Earth science education for all of my working career. I studied geology, geography and chemistry at high school and then continued to study geology and geography at Sydney University. I ended up with a honors degree in geology, then went and spent a year getting a graduate diploma of education. I taught in New South Wales for a number of years and then moved to a job as an education officer at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrlian Research Organisation (CSIRO) where I worked for just under ten years. I left CSIRO and established an Earth science education program at Geoscience Australia and then became the director of communications. In 2003 I left Geoscience Australia after nine years and went to work in the United States of America as the Director of Education & Outreach for the Geological Society of America (GSA)
As well as my love for Earth science and the programs I am involved in at GSA, I am establishing a small horse farm in Colorado USA with my family. I love most outdoor activities, and enjoy playing ukelele and guitar.
Science, and geology in particular, allowed me to join togther some things I love. I get to be outside and travel to fascinating places. I also love collecting - rocks, minerals, fossils, coins, stamps etc. Along the way I become fascinated on how landscapes develop because of Earth processes and every trip to a new place has me asking questions about why the landscape looks the way it does.
Find what you enjoy doing in life and then work towards getting a job in that field. You spend a lot of time working, so why not have fun doing it. I certainly do! Science has so many opportunities - you can travel, you can meet interesting people and you can make a real difference for future generations. For me, science has been a wonderful part of my life journey.