Welcome to the second Meet the Inspiration RockWear blog post! This series will contain interviews with women and minorities sharing their experiences on their geoscience journey.
Today’s post is an interview with Cate Larsen (@groovygeologist), a passionate geologist and geo-communicator who's breaking down barriers and using her platform to inspire and educate audiences by making the geosciences more accessible and exciting.
- What got you interested in the geosciences?
Answer: Growing up with a deep love for space, I started my college journey as an astronomy major before stumbling upon planetary geology and I never went back!
- What is your specialization?
Answer: I consider myself a general geologist who is intrigued by every sub-discipline, but could never pick just one. My job is being a geology communicator (also known as geo-communicator), a profession that's fueled by my desire to learn about a wide variety of things and teach them to others.
- What made you choose geology over astronomy?
Answer: I changed my major for two reasons: 1) I realized I don't really care about stars and galaxies and black holes, just the planets and moons and 2) the processes that made and shaped these bodies exist here on Earth, too... and they're beautiful and interesting and maybe the Earth isn't so boring after all!
- How would you describe your job to someone that is not familiar with the geosciences?
Answer: My go-to is that I talk about rocks for a living. More specifically, I introduce people to the interesting things about our planet's natural processes and features and make it entertaining to learn about. Using techniques like analogies and comedy, I'm able to reach audiences of all kinds in person or online.
- What have been some of the highlights or most memorable moments of your geoscience journey?
Answer: In 2023 I traveled to Ontario, Canada to give a talk on the geology of Mars to an all-ages audience. I can't tell what was more memorable: the beautiful scenery and formations I saw, or all the little girls lined up to meet me after my talk. Hearing about how much they love space and rocks made me really emotional because I was their age when I found out about astronomy and decided to pour my heart into learning everything I could. I was truly honored to be that representation and validation that girls with passions in science can go far when they dream big enough and keep learning.
- Who are some of the people that inspire you?
Answer: My professors inspired me the most to keep learning and striving towards success in college. Their support and guidance make me want to be just like them and help students thrive in the field they love so much. I'm also inspired by Nick Zentner, who is a celebrity to me just as much as I might be a celebrity to geology students. I would be so stoked to meet him one day and thank him for making geology available and engaging to the masses on his TV show, YouTube channel, and his lectures.
- What challenges have you faced or continue to face in your journey that may be unique to women or minorities?
Answer: Aside from misogynistic comments I get on social media or the crazy emails men send to me when they stumble upon my website, I sometimes feel people don't take me seriously as a professional. After giving invited talks to full rooms and getting paid for my time, I still get people (mostly older men) ask me "so what's your real job?" and having to explain that this IS my real job and it's just as important for society as any other geology career. It really bums me out that after 4 years, I still get this response.
- How do you overcome these challenges?
Answer: I surround myself with other people in this niche industry of geo-communication and we support each other! We work together on projects and share opportunities that make our jobs more well-known and thus more respected within the broader geosciences.
- What can the rest of us do to help increase the representation of women and minorities in the geosciences?
Answer: Given that I haven't worked in any industry other than geo-communication, it's hard for me to say anything from firsthand experience. However, I do meet a lot of women in industries like mining and construction, and some of their stories make me sick; it's no wonder so many of them leave and change careers! My take is that instead of inviting more vulnerable people into broken industries, the focus should first be on helping the ones who are already there, but feel unsafe and unrespected. Employers need to prioritize building a safe and welcoming environment by encouraging workers to report incidents, actually taking them seriously, and holding offenders accountable. Only then will more women and minorities feel confident entering the geosciences and working these crucial jobs.
Cate is another example of the many women breaking barriers in the world of science. Check out our latest design in the Lifestyle Series inspired by her journey and her passion for making the geosciences more accessible and fun for all to learn!
Share her story and join us in celebrating the amazing accomplishments of women in STEM!