Nerds in Nature…Who’s on Holiday Anyway?
I was walking on the beach the other day in beautiful Parksville, BC, when I happened upon a crowd gathered around a group of busy scientists. Never one to miss out on an opportunity to engage in some nerd-speak I thought I’d poke around and see just what they were up to.
Introducing J.P. Richards, a professor in the department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta, and this week’s specimen in Nerd Corner!
It turns out that the group was digging deep into the vast sandy expanses of Rathtrevor beach in order to extract giant 7 foot cores of sediment. The sediment cores will be shipped back to the university for a host of chemical and physical analyses that will provide evidence about the geological and biological evolution of the area.
Dr. Richards graciously took a few minutes from his work to answer some questions:
CB: What are you doing here??
JR: We are interested in the coevolution of the biological and geological systems in this area. In the early 1900s the Englishman River avulsed (abruptly changed its flow pattern) away from this area. At that time the geomorphology of this bay drastically began to change from an area of strong currents to one of quiescent deposition. Our work here seeks to address how these geological changes affected the biota, we do this through examination of trace fossils from within the cores. We’ll be able to determine the animals that were present over the past 100 years. Our interests bridge the gap between geology and biology.
CB: Any advice to budding biologists?
JR: Follow your passion. You need to do what you love. Keep doing what you are doing until it’s not fun any more, and then try something different. That’s the only way you’re going to be good at this business!
CB: If you could have 3 guests for dinner, alive or dead, who would they be?
JR: I’d need to invite 4 people if that’s ok. William Diller Matthew (renowned Canadian paleontologist), Nelson Mandela, and my two daughters, aged 2 and 6.
CB: I should have known you had young kids, my 3 year old daughter was thrilled with the ghost shrimp and crabs that you brought over to her!
CB: What would you eat?
JR: Smoked fish of all types. Trout, salmon you name it! Whenever we come to Parksville for field work our first stop is always to French Creek where we buy 4-5 varieties of smoked fish. It’s my favorite thing!
CB: In addition to his academics, Dr. Richards runs a blog for the academic staff at the University of Alberta, ‘Whither the U of A’. Thanks so much for taking time from your busy field schedule to chat with me Dr. Richards!