Kate is a seismologist working on glacier microquakes at Mt. Rainier.
An idea is to contact the Quake Catchers Network about getting your students their own low-cost seismometers to install in their homes (http://qcn.stanford.edu/).
Your field of science:
Seismology/Geophysics
A brief description of what you are currently working on.
I'm currently working on studying unusual shallow earthquakes at Mount Rainier that look like the type of earthquakes that can occur prior to volcanic eruptions called 'drumbeat earthquakes,' but are actually generated by glaciers changing their sliding behavior in response to the loading of snow during winter storms to act like little slipping faults. I also study landslides triggered by earthquakes in Puget Sound and use seismology to study enormous catastrophic landslides that can happen around volcanoes using the seismic waves they generate.
Do you have an idea(s) on what seventh graders could do as far as field work on Mt. Rainier?
One idea I'm working on for another outreach program is using cheap seismometers to record noises on the mountain, the glaciers up high make a lot of noise but can only be recorded really close by and it would be hard for sevenths graders to get up there, so perhaps using seismometers to record noise lower down from humans walking by, cars driving by, rivers etc. to gain an understanding of how we can use seismology to monitor the volcano followed by a visit to one of the seismometers/gps stations in the park that are used to monitor the volcano. Another idea is to use photogrammetry, have the kids take photos from different locations around the park and these can be used to get a topographic model of part of the park with some free software, and if they take pictures over time - for example over a few days - they could use it to track changes (ex. prove that the glaciers are actually moving).
What inspired you to get into science in the first place? What do you like about science?
I had a few really great science and math teachers in middle and high school that made it clear how fun and interesting earth science and physics could be. I also had parents and grandparents who took me to visit the National Parks around the country so I wanted to pursue a career where I could study how these amazing natural wonders came into existence (and where I could also be outside and do a lot of fieldwork instead of sitting in a stuffy office all day). I also benefited from a lot of science programs at local science museums and observatories, watched a lot of Bill Nye the science guy on TV, and was dragged to a lot of science museums. All of that helped contribute to my feeling that science was an exciting and interesting field to go into that also had the potential to help improve society - and now that I'm a scientist, I know that it's actually true.
What I like about science is learning how little we actually know about our world and then being part of expanding that knowledge - doing things that no one else has done before. Also, I like going outside for work.
What advice do you have for a middle school student who is interested in becoming a scientist?
Keep your eyes peeled for sciencey summer programs and also extracurricular activities during the school year, a lot of them free. There are a lot of great opportunities out there and they can all serve to get you a head start on your way to being a scientist and can be a lot of fun at the same time. Also, ask your parents to take you to some of the National and state parks, there are a lot of amazing and inspiring natural wonders in the Pacific Northwest, go see them, hike around, and think about how they got there. Also, don't think that math class is pointless, when you are learning the basics it may seem like it's useless stuff, but trust me, I use math every day now and I often wish I paid more attention back when I was learning the basics.