Exploring an erupting career: Grad to watch Madelaine Willcock - Women's Agenda

Exploring an erupting career: Grad to watch Madelaine Willcock

They’re ambitious, innovative and highly intelligent – and they’re set to soon graduate from their chosen fields of study and launch careers that will inspire and change the world.

In the coming weeks we will profile 16 female graduates to watch in 2014 who are leading the next generation of female talent in science, medicine, law, business and research. They answer our questions on everything from what they hope to achieve in their careers, what inspires them and the challenges they anticipate they will face in their careers.

Madelaine Willcock’s research into caldera, bowl-shaped depressions that can remain after a volcano erupts, has seen her present at international workshops and conferences and put her on track for a career that will help bring a greater understanding of Earth and all its processes to the general community. Willcock’s work on little-studied caldera has already contributed to a wider area of knowledge on super-eruption processes and has been accepted for publication by the Royal Society London. 

What degree are you studying and at which university?

Doctor of Philosophy, Monash University, Clayton campus Area of research: Volcanology (School of Geosciences).

When do you plan to finish your studies?
2013

How old are you?
27

How do you hope the results of your PhD research will be used?
I hope that my research results act as a base for further volcanological study of the Ora caldera volcano, northern Italy, to help build a greater understanding of the volcano and study what more it can reveal regarding caldera volcanism. I hope the findings can form a useful part of the larger dataset for caldera volcanism, helping to increase knowledge of these complex volcanic systems and aid in preparation for future events.

What do you want to achieve in your career?
I hope to use skills in my career to make a useful contribution in the geosciences through research and government or industry bodies. I hope to help in bringing greater understanding of our Earth and its processes to the general community, to show the many amazing things about our Earth together with education on possible hazards.

What are the biggest challenges you face in trying to reach these goals?
Scientific research needs funding and this is always a challenge with so many other sectors vying for funds. Geoscience enables us to better understand the Earth we all live on which is very important as we are all affected by geologic processes to some degree. This has been highlighted in recent years by natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Such hazards and their potential impact on society and the natural world emphasize the need for continued support of the geosciences.

Where do you hope to be in 10 years time?
I would hope to have made, and be continuing to make, a contribution to Geoscience research in Australia and/or overseas, to have got married and hopefully have started a family!

Who do you admire most?
I most admire my family, for their approach to life, treatment of others and endless patience and care.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
I have received much great advice from many people, however, key motivators for me in life and in work largely reside in three key statements, including;
‘There is no such thing as can’t, only how’ ¬– My father
‘Where there’s a will, there’s a Willcock’ – One of my Scout leaders
‘Just do it’ – My PhD supervisor

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