Dominique Stallard
The University of Auckland's Faculty of Science offered a degree that aligned with Dominique's interests, and she was confident it would set her up to pursue an exciting career with international prospects.
"I have always been interested in the Earth, space, and space exploration, and I am drawn to ponder the big and unexplained questions. This fascination inspired me to pursue an undergraduate degree in Earth Sciences.
"I'm in the final year of my BSc and planning to pursue an honours degree, continuing my research on siliceous hot spring deposits.
"My passion for Astrobiology and finding life on Mars inspires my research in this field. I hope it will lead to a future in a research or industry role, allowing me to realise my dreams and make a difference to myself and the geological community.
I'm in the final year of my BSc and planning to pursue an honours degree, continuing my research on siliceous hot spring deposits.
"The Earth Science major offers a lot of variety, and the teaching staff are highly knowledgeable and connected to industry. I was able to explore a variety of options before choosing a specialisation. I enjoyed this because it meant I could develop a broader knowledge and skillset while finding the area I am most passionate about within geology.
"The 2023-2024 Summer Research Scholarship was an opportunity to build on my undergraduate degree, allowing me to apply my geological background to research investigating early life on Mars and Earth. We participated in lab work and collaborative research processes.
"I value a 'helping-hand' environment that encourages people to ask for help and supports them in striving and achieving. I recently started working as a tutoring assistant, which has been a great learning experience and an opportunity to lend my knowledge to help others."